Effect of Physical Therapy with Music Therapy on Gait, Balance and Quality of Life In Parkinson’s Disease

Abstract

Background: Parkinson’s disease is a chronic, progressive and neurodegenerative disorder. A range of motor

and non-motor symptoms may cause postural instability and impaired functional mobility often leading

to falls and decrease quality of life. Physical therapy with Music therapy may be promising intervention

to improve gait and related activities in Parkinson’s disease. Methodology: Permission was taken from

institutional ethical committee. An experimental study was conducted on 30 individual selected on the basis

of inclusion and exclusion criteria. Randomized allocation of the participants was done into experimental

(Physical therapy with music therapy) and control (Conventional physical therapy) groups. Participants

were evaluated pre and post intervention for gait using Dynamic gait index (DGI), balance using Time up

and go (TUG) and quality of Life using Parkinson’s disease quality of life 39 (PDQ 39) questionnaire. A six

weeks intervention program was given to the patients for four times per week. Result: Data was analyzed

using Shapiro-wilk test accordingly parametric or non- parametric test were performed. Between groups

comparisons showed extremely significant (p<0.001) improvement on DGI (4±1.363), TUG test (2±0.92)

and PDQ 39 questionnaire (45.07±10.62) in experimental group as compare to DGI (2.33±1.496), TUG test

(0.933±0.70) and PDQ 39 questionnaire (42.53±10.56) in control group. Conclusion: The study concluded

that physical therapy with Music therapy is effective in improving gait, balance and quality of Life in patients

with Parkinson’s disease