K J Miller1, D Suárez-Iglesias2, M Seijo-Martínez3, C Ayán4. 1. School of Health and Life Sciences, Federation University Australia, Ballarat, Australia. 2. Universidad de León, 24071 León, España. 3. Complejo Hospitalario de Pontevedra, 36001 Pontevedra, España. 4. Universidad de Vigo, Pontevedra, España.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Freezing of gait (FOG) is one of the most severe symptoms associated with Parkinson's disease (PD). Physiotherapy treatment could be an effective strategy for treating FOG, but no systematic review has been carried out in this regard. AIM: To identify the characteristics, methodological quality, and main outcomes of the studies that have analyzed the effects of physiotherapy interventions in FOG up to date, by performing a systematic review and a meta-analysis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Four electronic databases were searched in order to find randomized controlled trials that provided information regarding the effects of any kind of physiotherapy treatment on FOG. The methodological quality of the included investigations was assessed by means of the PEDro scale. RESULTS: Twelve studies were identified for inclusion into the qualitative analysis, with four randomized controlled trials included in the final meta-analysis. The quality of the trials was generally good. Those physiotherapy modalities including cues were more effective for treating FOG than traditional physiotherapy approaches. The meta-analysis indicated that physiotherapy interventions had a significantly greater impact on FOG than control comparisons. CONCLUSIONS: Physiotherapy treatment, especially those modalities including visual and auditory cueing, should be prescribed to PD patients with FOG. Future studies including PD patients with cognitive impairment and FOG objective measurement tools are need to complete the existing scientific evidence.
INTRODUCTION: Freezing of gait (FOG) is one of the most severe symptoms associated with Parkinson's disease (PD). Physiotherapy treatment could be an effective strategy for treating FOG, but no systematic review has been carried out in this regard. AIM: To identify the characteristics, methodological quality, and main outcomes of the studies that have analyzed the effects of physiotherapy interventions in FOG up to date, by performing a systematic review and a meta-analysis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Four electronic databases were searched in order to find randomized controlled trials that provided information regarding the effects of any kind of physiotherapy treatment on FOG. The methodological quality of the included investigations was assessed by means of the PEDro scale. RESULTS: Twelve studies were identified for inclusion into the qualitative analysis, with four randomized controlled trials included in the final meta-analysis. The quality of the trials was generally good. Those physiotherapy modalities including cues were more effective for treating FOG than traditional physiotherapy approaches. The meta-analysis indicated that physiotherapy interventions had a significantly greater impact on FOG than control comparisons. CONCLUSIONS: Physiotherapy treatment, especially those modalities including visual and auditory cueing, should be prescribed to PDpatients with FOG. Future studies including PDpatients with cognitive impairment and FOG objective measurement tools are need to complete the existing scientific evidence.
Authors: Jacek Wilczyński; Magdalena Ścipniak; Kacper Ścipniak; Kamil Margiel; Igor Wilczyński; Rafał Zieliński; Piotr Sobolewski Journal: Biomed Res Int Date: 2021-09-28 Impact factor: 3.411