Table 1.
Physiotherapy intervention classifications and trial characteristics
| Physiotherapy intervention | Number of trials | Total number of participants (% male) | Mean age (years) | Mean stage on Hoehn and Yahr scale | Mean duration of Parkinson’s disease (years) | Duration of treatment sessions (min) | Duration of trial period | Examples of types of therapy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Physiotherapy | 725,26,27,28,29,30,31 | 244 (69) | 65 | 2.4 | 4 | 30-60 | 4-12 months | Bobath training; gait and balance exercises; hands-on techniques; education and advice on transfer, posture, physical fitness |
| Exercise | 1432,33,34,35,36,37,38,39,40,41,42,43,44,45 | 769 (60) | 69 | 2.6 | 6 | 30-120 | 3-24 weeks | Strengthening and balance training; walking; falls prevention; neuromuscular facilitation; resistance exercise; aerobic training; education; relaxing techniques |
| Treadmill | 827,31,46,47,48,49,50,51 | 179 (61) | 68 | 2.4 | 5 | 30-60 |
4-8 weeks | Walking on treadmill with speed or incline adjustments; body weight supported treadmill training; step and gait training |
| Cueing | 938,45,52,53,54,55,56,57,58 | 371 (59) | 67 | 2.6 | 7 | 4-30 | Single session of 13 weeks | Three types of cueing: audio (music, spoken instructions); visual (computer images); sensory (vibration) |
| Dance | 259,60 | 120 (63) | 69 | 2.3 | 7 | 60 | 12-13 weeks | Tango; waltz; foxtrot |
| Martial arts | 460,61,62,63 | 143 (74) | 65 | 2.1 | 6 | 60 | 12-24 weeks | Tai chi; qigong |
For one trial,31 60 patients split between physiotherapy and treadmill categories not included in table because group split not given. For multiple arm trials, which are included in more than one intervention type, control arm patients (n=59) were counted twice. Web table 1 provides detailed information on individual trials.