International Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
Open Access

Abstract

Progressive Muscular Strength Protocol for the Functionality of Upper Limbs in Individuals with Parkinson’s disease: Protocol Study

Thais Vianna Correa, Vera Lucia Santos de Britto and Clynton Lourenco Correa

Background: There is a lack understanding between the possible effects of physical intervention in motor function of the upper limbs and quality of life in patients with PD.
Objective: To present a progressive muscular strengthening protocol of the upper limbs with focus on the functional capacity.
Methods: The sample has been chosen for convenience. The patients have been divided into two groups: Intervention and Control which have not been distributed randomly. The following instruments have been chosen to be evaluating results: Unified Parkinson Disease Rate Scale, Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire, Nine Hole Peg Test, Test d'Evaluation des Membres Superieurs of Personnes Âgées and handgrip dynamometer. All these instruments have to be applied before and after the training phase which is for 2 months, twice a week and follow up period for one month after the last training session. For demographic characteristics of the sample, descriptive statistics have to be used. The Shapiro-Wilk test has to examine the normality of the sample. Parametric or nonparametric tests have to be performed to check if there is a significant statistical difference between pre- and posttraining and follow-up, as correlation tests, pre- and post-training. The significance level of 5% for all procedures have to be adopted.
Results: The strength training has to combine isotonic and isometric exercises using elastic tubes for upper limbs. The program has to be carried out for two months, totalizing 16 sessions. Five subjects in each group started the program, but have not yet finished. Results are expected in 2018.
Discussion: Most studies on muscle weakness in PD focus on the evaluation aspect. Cover mainly studies of physical rehabilitation the lower limbs, and focus on gait and balance. Therefore, it is important to carry out studies that investigate the possible effects of a progressive muscular strengthening protocol in upper limbs in PD patients.