Effects of Virtual Reality Versus Motor Imagery Versus Routine Physical Therapy in Patients With Parkinson's Disease.

Effects of Virtual Reality Versus Motor Imagery Versus Routine Physical Therapy in Patients With Parkinson's Disease: A Randomised Controlled Trial

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of VR and MI techniques in addition to routine physical therapy on motor skills, balance and ADL in patients with Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease is one of the most common, insidious neurological disorders with major motor symptoms, including bradykinesia, resting tremors, rigidity, and postural disorders. Virtual reality and motor imagery are among the more innovative techniques for rehabilitation of patients with Parkinson's disease that promote motor learning through both explicit and implicit processes.This study is unique in that it examines the effects of VR versus MI on motor skills, balance, and daily living activities in individuals with Parkinson's disease

Inclusion Criteria:

• Idiopathic Parkinson's disease
• Modified Hoehn and Yahr Scale(H&Y stages I to III)
• Between the ages of 50 and 80 years of both genders
• Independent in transfers
• A score equal to or greater than 24 on the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and
• Previous lack of participation in balance or motor training.

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of any neurological conditions such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy other than Parkinson's disease,
• History of orthopedic issues such as pain, fracture, or lower limb pathology,
• History of visual abnormalities,
• History of any chronic or cardiovascular pathology that can interfere with the transfer procedure or can affect the training sessions,
• The participants having severe dyskinesia or "on-off" phases,
• Previous history of surgery for PD,
• History of virtual games used for treatment in the past three months, and
• Virtual game phobia.