The Management of Parkinson’s Disease Symptoms with Tai Chi Exercise Program: A Case Study

Abstract

The objective of this case study was to explore the effectiveness of a Tai Chi exercise program in a patient who presents with symptoms consistent with the early to middle stages of Parkinson’s Disease (PD). Recent evidence has shown optimistic findings in the use of Tai Chi to improve balance and gait impairments in patients with motor disorders such as PD.

The patient, Mrs. A is a 67 year-old retiree presenting with rigidity, bradykinesia and impaired gait and balance secondary to PD. She self-referred to physiotherapy to seek help with her recently worsening symptoms. Upon completion of a 24-week Tai Chi exercise program, Mrs. A showed improvements in postural stability and balance, gait pattern, bradykinesia symptoms, and ability to perform activities of daily living (ADLs) independently following completion of the program. She was also agreeable to continue doing Tai Chi following her discharge from physiotherapy after experiencing the changes in her level of motor function and confidence to remain independent. Outcome measures indicated that the Tai Chi exercise program provided benefits in some aspects of the patient’s emotional and physical well-being, however no effects were observed in overall posture, upper extremity tremors or rigidity. Additional research is needed to determine the most effective physiotherapy approaches for the management of PD, as well as longitudinal studies to observe the long-term effects of physiotherapy interventions.

Self-Study Questions

1. According to current evidence, which of the following motor aspects of a Parkinson’s patient would most likely be influenced by a Tai Chi exercise program?
   1. Rigidity
   2. Gait
   3. Tremor
2. What is the proposed cut-off score for the TUG in patients with Parkinson's Disease?
   1. 20.5
   2. 13
   3. 11.5
   4. 15
3. What type of exercise has sufficient evidence to show that it is the best for patients with Parkinson’s?
   1. Gait training on a treadmill
   2. Dance
   3. Martial arts
   4. None of the above