2026-04-06T22:32:24Z https://www.peertechzpublications.org/oai-pmh

oai:www.peertechzpublications.org:10.17352/2455-5487.000052 2017-08-17 PTZ.JNPPR:VOL4

The Effects of Whole Body Periodic Acceleration on Non-Motor Symptoms in Persons with Parkinson’s disease: A Pilot Study Veronica Southard Soteroulla Roumba Ilyse Schwartz Nicole Sparacino Katie Weddingfeld Joanne Donoghue<p><strong>Background and Purpose:</strong> In Parkinson’s disease (PD), some common non-motor symptoms include depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances. Non-motor symptoms affect quality of life. In PD, Nitric Oxide (NO) production is reduced, which inhibits sleep.&nbsp; Whole body periodic acceleration (WBPA) has been found to increase secretion of NO.&nbsp; In persons with PD, the effects of WBPA on sleep regulation and activity levels have yet to be evaluated. This study assessed whether WBPA would improve non-motor symptoms in persons with Parkinson’s disease when compared to gender matched controls.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Methods</strong>: There were 10 participants. Five participants had PD and 5 healthy older adults (8 men; 2 women), mean age 74.1 (SD 9.2 years) participated. Activity trackers were employed to monitor sleep, awakenings, and step counts 24 hours per day over 6 weeks.&nbsp; Sleep was also assessed using Sleep Quality Index, (PSQI); depressive symptoms, with the Patient Health Questionnaire (PDQ-9), and the (PDQ-8), a Parkinson’s disease Quality of Life report. WBPA interventions were for 45 minutes, 3 times per week for 4 weeks. Participants wore the activity trackers for 7 days before and after the intervention. Blood pressure (BP) was monitored before and after each session.</p><p><strong>Results</strong>:&nbsp; Repeated measures and paired t tests were used to assess data. Significantly decreased BP pre vs. post p .017 was found when groups were combined, also the controls only BP pretest to posttest t test was significant p.004; other significant findings were PD group PDQ-9 also had improved depressive symptoms p .025. Minimally Clinically Significant Differences (MCID) were also found in the PD participants, in the PSQI (4.25) points. PDQ-8 was trending toward improvement with 4.4 points improvement.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Conclusion</strong>: This was the first study to assess the WBPA on non-motor symptoms of PD patients. Self-reports confirmed improvements in depression symptoms and sleep.&nbsp; Even with a mean increase of 600 steps daily, decreased physical activity in those with mild to moderate PD was evidenced compared to controls. Interventions such as this may have a significant role in PD management non-motor symptoms. Further study with larger groups is warranted using WBPA.</p> Journal of Novel Physiotherapy and Physical Rehabilitation - Peertechz Publications 2017-08-17 Research Article https://doi.org/10.17352/2455-5487.000052 en Copyright © Veronica Southard et al.