Comparative Effect of Augmented Reality and Routine Physical Therapy on Balance and Postural Control in Patients with Parkinson’s disease

Abstract

Background: Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative condition that often manifests in old age with generalized slowness of movements (bradykinesia) and a minimum of one additional symptom of tremor at rest or stiffness.

Objective: The purpose is to compare the effects of Augmented Reality and Routine Physical Therapy on balance and Postural Control in Patients with Parkinson's disease.

Methodology: It was a randomized clinical trial done in the Neuro medicine and physiotherapy department of Allied Hospital, Faisalabad. A sample size of 62 patients was divided into two equal groups. Patients in Group A had conventional physiotherapy, while those in Group B received augmented reality and conventional physiotherapy. Non probability sampling technique was used. Data was collected on the baseline and then data was collected after 8th weeks, and final data was collected after 12th weeks. Tools for collection of data were the Berg balance scale, timed up and go, and one leg stance test.

Results: An Independent sample t-test was used to check the difference between groups in pre and post intervention which shows the statistical difference in both groups after the 8th and 12th weeks of treatment. However, mean differences show that group B has more good results. Repeated measure analysis of variance also shows that there is a significant difference between treatment groups in the within-group analysis.

Conclusion: Our study concludes that an augmented reality regimen along with physiotherapy is beneficial for Parkinson’s patients to improve balance and postural control.

Key words: Augmented reality, Balance, Posture, Parkinsonism, Postural Equilibrium, Lewy Body Parkinson Disease.