The effect of a training program on mobility, balance and the course of the disease in the person with juvenile parkinson’s: pre and post intervention observational study

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a slow and progressive neurodegenerative disease that falls into the category of movement disorders. The main symptoms of the disease are four: tremor (even at rest), rigidity, bradykinesia or akinesia and postural instability. In literature it appears that physical exercise has a real benefit for the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. The objective of the study was to investigate the effects of a quarterly exercise program on motor skills of a sample of patients with juvenile Parkinson's (adults up to 65 years). From April to July 2022, the effectiveness of a lowintensity physical education program was evaluated in a sample of people diagnosed with juvenile PD (n = 13). The subjects underwent two light gymnastics workouts and one ballroom dance session per week. For the pre and post evaluations the following scales / tests were used: Tinetti Scale, ADL, IADL, Four Step Square Test (FSST), Time Up And Go(TUG). After three months the subjects showed a clear improvement as regards the Tinetti Scale (MT0 = 16.84; MT3 = 23). The ADL and IADL scales had a slight increase at the end of the study (MT0 = 4.15, 4.23; MT3 = 5, 4.36) but were not statistically significant. As for timed tests, they did not show a significant change at the end of the study. The twelve-week training program improved balance and gait in patients with juvenile Parkinson's, but it would be necessary to prolong the study or increase the intensity to obtain valid results on the subject's mobility and autonomy. A proposal is to create, together with the multidisciplinary team, an individualized training program according to the characteristics of the patient.