Physiotherapy in Parkinson's Disease: A Meta-Analysis of Present Treatment Modalities.

Background: Physiotherapy is a commonly prescribed intervention for people with Parkinson's disease (PD). Conventional types of physiotherapy have been studied extensively, while novel modalities are being developed and evaluated.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of conventional and more recent physiotherapy interventions for people with PD.

Value-based health care in obstetrics.

Rationale, Aims, And Objectives: We strive to maximize outcomes that are relevant to the women who deliver in our hospital. We demonstrate a practical method of using value-based health care (VBHC) concepts to analyse how care can be improved.

Method: Using International Consortium of Health Outcome Measurements (ICHOM) set, a practical outcome set was constructed for women who go into spontaneous labour at term of a singleton in cephalic presentation and used for benchmarking.

The European Physiotherapy Guideline for Parkinson's Disease: Implications for Neurologists.

The evidence for physiotherapy is growing, showing a positive impact on functional activities involving gait, transfers and balance. Specific recommendations for physiotherapists, physicians and people with Parkinson's disease were published in the European Physiotherapy Guideline for Parkinson's disease. Here, we summarize the referral criteria, highlight the importance of accurate referral to specialized physiotherapists, and emphasize the potential benefits of expert care.

Training dual tasks together or apart in Parkinson's disease: Results from the DUALITY trial.

Background And Objectives: Many controversies surround the usefulness of dual-task training in Parkinson's disease (PD). This study (1) compared the efficacy of two different dual-task training programs for improving dual-task gait and (2) assessed the possible fall risk of such training.

Methods: Patients (N = 121) with a diagnosis of PD (aged 65.

Test-Retest Reliability of Dual-Task Outcome Measures in People With Parkinson Disease.

Background: Dual-task (DT) training is gaining ground as a physical therapy intervention in people with Parkinson disease (PD). Future studies evaluating the effect of such interventions need reliable outcome measures. To date, the test-retest reliability of DT measures in patients with PD remains largely unknown.

Are factors related to dual-task performance in people with Parkinson's disease dependent on the type of dual task?

Background: Impaired dual-task performance significantly impacts upon functional mobility in people with Parkinson's disease (PD). The aim of this study was to identify determinants of dual-task performance in people with PD in three different dual tasks to assess their possible task-dependency.

Methods: We recruited 121 home-dwelling patients with PD (mean age 65.

Dual tasking in Parkinson's disease: should we train hazardous behavior?

Dual-task (DT) circumstances aggravate gait disorders in Parkinson's disease (PD) and are associated with an increased risk of falling and reduced functional mobility. Clinical rehabilitation guidelines for PD consider DT interventions as potentially hazardous and recommend avoiding them in daily life. The current article challenges this notion and addresses the necessity of implementing DT training in PD.

Protocol for a randomized comparison of integrated versus consecutive dual task practice in Parkinson's disease: the DUALITY trial.

Background: Multiple tasking is an integral part of daily mobility. Patients with Parkinson's disease have dual tasking difficulties due to their combined motor and cognitive deficits. Two contrasting physiotherapy interventions have been proposed to alleviate dual tasking difficulties: either to discourage simultaneous execution of dual tasks (consecutive training); or to practice their concurrent use (integrated training).

Physiotherapy in degenerative cerebellar ataxias: utilisation, patient satisfaction, and professional expertise.

Physiotherapy plays an important role in the management of patients with degenerative cerebellar ataxias. However, our insight in the quantity and quality of physiotherapy prescription in this group of patients is incomplete. The purposes of this study were to investigate the utilization of physiotherapy and patient satisfaction in patients with degenerative ataxias in The Netherlands and to examine the level of expertise and needs of physiotherapists treating ataxia patients.

The effectiveness of allied health care in patients with ataxia: a systematic review.

Many patients with cerebellar ataxia have serious disabilities in daily life, while pharmacological treatment options are absent. Therefore, allied health care is considered to be important in the management of these patients. The goal of this review is to evaluate scientific evidence for allied health care in cerebellar ataxia, to identify effective treatment strategies, and to give recommendations for clinical practice and further research.

The ParkinsonNet trial: design and baseline characteristics.

The companion paper describes how implementation of professional networks (ParkinsonNet) may improve the quality and efficiency of allied health care in Parkinson's disease (PD). We designed a cluster-randomized controlled trial to evaluate this ParkinsonNet concept for one allied health discipline, namely physical therapy. Here we describe the study design and baseline characteristics.

The ParkinsonNet concept: development, implementation and initial experience.

The quality and efficiency of allied health care in Parkinson's disease (PD) must be improved. We have developed the ParkinsonNet concept: a professional regional network within the catchment area of hospitals. ParkinsonNet aims to: (1) improve PD-specific expertise among allied health personnel, by training a selected number of therapists according to evidence-based guidelines; (2) enhance the accuracy of referrals by neurologists; (3) boost patient volumes per therapist, by stimulating preferred referral to ParkinsonNet therapists; and (4) stimulate collaboration between therapists, neurologists, and patients.

Allied health care in Parkinson's disease: referral, consultation, and professional expertise.

There is evidence for the efficacy of allied health care in Parkinson's disease (PD). However, barriers exist that hamper implementation of evidence into daily practice. We conducted a survey to investigate: (1) to what extent PD patients currently utilize allied health care for relevant problems in the core areas of allied health care and (2) the level of PD-specific expertise among allied health professionals.

Physical therapy in Parkinson's disease: evolution and future challenges.

Even with optimal medical management using drugs or neurosurgery, patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) are faced with progressively increasing mobility problems. For this reason, many patients require additional physical therapy. Here, we review the professional evolution and scientific validation of physical therapy in PD, and highlight several future challenges.

Evidence-based analysis of physical therapy in Parkinson's disease with recommendations for practice and research.

Physical therapy is often prescribed in Parkinson's disease. To facilitate the uniformity and efficacy of this intervention, we analyzed current evidence and developed practice recommendations. We carried out an evidence-based literature review.

Effectiveness of exercise therapy: a best-evidence summary of systematic reviews.

The purpose of this project was to summarise the available evidence on the effectiveness of exercise therapy for patients with disorders of the musculoskeletal, nervous, respiratory, and cardiovascular systems. Systematic reviews were identified by means of a comprehensive search strategy in 11 bibliographic databases (08/2002), in combination with reference tracking. Reviews that included (i) at least one randomised controlled trial investigating the effectiveness of exercise therapy, (ii) clinically relevant outcome measures, and (iii) full text written in English, German or Dutch, were selected by two reviewers.

Physiotherapy in Parkinson's disease: utilisation and patient satisfaction.

To examine the quality and quantity of physiotherapy care in Parkinson's disease (PD) in the Netherlands, postal questionnaires were sent to 300 PD patients. Patients who had received treatment by a physiotherapist at some stage during the previous year were asked to give approval to contact their therapist. Subsequently, postal questionnaires were sent to 129 physiotherapists who had recently treated the patients that were identified in the first stage of the study.