Clinical Research Directory

Health and Gait Outcomes in Elderly Dancers Compared to Inactive Adults

The aim of this observational study is to assess functional fitness and spatial-temporal gait parameters in individuals aged 65 years and over who regularly participate in senior dance classes. These outcomes will be compared with those of two inactive control groups: aged-matched older adults and inactive middle-aged individuals (aged 25-40 years) who have not engaged in any structured physical activity in the past six months. Furthermore, our study aimed to assess the correlation between the duration of participation in senior dance and the measured variables including physical fitness, gait characteristics, and mental well-being.

The Effect of Balance-focused Exercise Programme in Enhancing the Solus-muscle Activation During Gait Initiation for People With Parkinson Disease

Gait initiation (GI) is a crucial component of walking that requires a balanced muscle activity and postural stability. GI could be challenging for people with neurological condition such as people with Parkinson (PWP), where GI is usually impaired. The purpose of this study is determining effectiveness of comprehensive, balanced-focused exercise programme in controlling the activation of Solus-muscle in people with Parkinson disease. We hypothesise that balance-focus exercise programe could improve Solus-muscle activation during GI. study type: this is a parallel group prospective (10 weeks) randomised single-blinded controlled trial conduct in Kuwait. Participant: People with Parkinson, who met the inclusion criteria.

Effects of Motor Imagery Training

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease, characterized pathologically by the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra and clinically by the presence of motor symptoms such as bradykinesia, resting tremor, and/or rigidity. Among the motor deficits frequently observed in PD, patients are known to frequently report difficulties with manual dexterity.Typical features of balance deficits in PD include decreased sway, decreased base of support, rigidity, abnormal intersegmental coordination, and postural misalignment. Related somatosensory deficits in PD include problems orienting to and processing sensory and somatosensory information.Motor imagery (MI) is the imaginal execution of motor activities or the activation of specific muscles in the absence of any explicit feedback. This area of rehabilitation has been shown to be effective in improving and developing motor skills in many neurological conditions where patients exhibit motor recognition and execution impairments. MI can be applied at all stages of recovery from PD, is highly effective in movement-related pathologies, and can be performed independently.Studies evaluating the effect of mental imagery training on balance measures in PD are limited. One study evaluating the effect of combined MI-physical therapy versus physical therapy alone group treatment noted positive trends toward balance improvements in the combined group. In a case study of a single participant with PD, a 3-month neurocognitive rehabilitation program incorporating mental imagery over 20 sessions resulted in balance improvements and a reduced risk of falls in both the "OFF" and "ON" phases, as measured by the Tinetti Balance and Gait Assessment Scale.The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of motor imagery training on kinesiophobia, walking and balance in patients with Parkinson's disease.