Neurol. praxi. 2016;17(1):45-48 | DOI: 10.36290/neu.2016.009

Respiratory physiotherapy as part of treatment for Parkinson's disease

Mgr. Kamila Bartusíková¹, PhDr. Zdeňka Krhutová, Ph.D.², MUDr. Pavel Ressner, Ph.D.²

¹ Ústav rehabilitace LF OU v Ostravě

² Neurologická klinika FN Ostrava–Poruba

The article presents the results of a pilot study aimed at finding out whether respiratory physiotherapy can affect respiratory and postural function of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). The study was conducted on a group of PD patients who were selected on the basis of clinical examination and referral by a physician from the unit for extrapyramidal disorders. The individuals enrolled were classified as stage 2–3 on the Hoehn and Yahr scale and were divided into three groups: two experimental ones and one control group. The therapy was based on the assumption that, due to disease symptoms, both postural and respiratory functions are insufficient in PD patients. The therapy was performed as a group exercise and aimed at improving the baseline postural conditions for respiration, strengthening of the respiratory muscles, and activating the muscles providing an interplay of postural and respiratory functions while using selected respiratory physiotherapy procedures. Respiratory physiotherapy resulted in improvement of most respiratory as well as postural parameters in the study group; however, these changes were not statistically significant.

Keywords: Parkinson's disease, respiratory physiotherapy, breathing exercise, resistive breathing device

Published: February 1, 2016  Show citation