Enhancing the Motor Learning: Clinical Pilates Training for Parkinson's Disease: Study Protocol for a Randomised Controlled Trial

Abstract

Background: The Parkinsonpilates is a clinical Pilates training designed to improve motor learning, postural stability, and gait, may be beneficial for individuals with Parkinson's disease (iwPD). The main objective of this randomised controlled trial (RCT) is to provide evidence for the acceptability of the Parkinsonpilates as a new approach and to investigate the clinical outcomes. Methods: 30 iwPD will be recruited for this study and also, the participants have to be in Hoehn Yahr stage 2-3. The participants will be randomly assigned to the Parkinsonpilates Group(PP) and Conventional Physiotherapy(CP) Group. Also, they will be evaluated 4 times in a 6 months. According to the evaluation schedule, the first evaluation will be before starting treatment(T0), the second evaluation will be 6 weeks after treatment(T6), post-treatment evaluation which will be at the end of 12th week(T12) and the follow-up will be 12 weeks after treatment ends (T24). The evaluation of patients' physical and motor skills will utilize The Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) III subscale. To gauge functional mobility, we will administer the Timed Up and Go Test(TUG). Assessment of dynamic balance will be carried out with the Functional Reach Test(FRT), and evaluation of postural control and dynamic balance will be conducted using the Berg Balance Scale. Furthermore, the Gait and Balance Scale (GABS) will be employed to evaluate patients' gait, balance, and functional capacities. Additionally, the reaction time will be measured using the Nelson foot reaction test. Discussion: Building upon our previous research, which underscored the potential efficacy of clinical Pilates in PD management, our aim is to highlight the potential long-term impacts of integrating motor learning principles into clinical Pilates interventions for PD patients. Through this study, we aim to underscore the significance of such an integrated approach in fostering sustained improvements in PD symptoms and overall well-being. Trial Registration: This study has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov as NCT05899426 (June,2023) under the name ‘The Motor Learning-based Clinical Pilates Rehabilitation Protocol for Patients with Parkinson's Disease’.