Effect of Intergenerational Physiotherapy on Functional Mobility and Quality of Life in Patients With Parkinson's Disease.

Research overview

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Introduction Parkinson's disease (PD) leads to progressive motor symptoms such as bradykinesia, rigidity, tremors, and postural instability, along with non-motor symptoms that reduce quality of life. Physiotherapy helps improve mobility, balance, and independence, but conventional approaches may suffer from low motivation and poor adherence. Intergenerational physiotherapy (IGP) includes pairing individuals with PD with younger partners to enhance engagement, provide social interaction, and introduce natural dual-task challenges. This supportive environment can improve gait, balance, posture, mood, and confidence. Although promising, IGP is still under-researched. This study investigated the physical and psychosocial benefits of Parkinson's rehabilitation. Methods A six-month randomized controlled trial was conducted at Krishna College of Physiotherapy with 18 individuals diagnosed with idiopathic PD. Participants were randomly allocated to either IGP or conventional physiotherapy. Eligible adults aged ≥50 years underwent supervised sessions five times per week for four weeks. Individuals with unstable medical conditions were excluded. Standardized assessments were used to measure motor performance, balance, gait parameters, and overall quality of life before and after the intervention. Results The results of the study demonstrated significant improvements in the IGP group compared with the conventional physiotherapy group across multiple parameters. Both groups showed progress after intervention; however, the IGP group exhibited greater gains in mobility, balance, and quality of life. Timed Up and Go scores, PD questionnaire-39 scores, and Berg Balance Scale scores improved more significantly in the IGP group, with p-values < 0.005, indicating high statistical significance. No significant differences were observed between groups at baseline, confirming group comparability. Overall, IGP proved more effective in enhancing functional performance and psychosocial well-being in individuals with PD. Conclusion Participants with PD showed positive responses to both conventional and IGP, with the latter demonstrating added physical and psychosocial benefits. These findings emphasize the potential of IGP as an engaging and holistic rehabilitation approach. Incorporating social interaction and motivation through younger partners may enhance adherence, functional outcomes, and overall quality of life in individuals with PD.

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