The Effects of Cognitive and Motor Dual-Task Training on Improvement of Balance, Quality of Life, and Fear of Falls in People with Idiopathic Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is characterized by motor and non-motor symptoms that affect patients’ functional performances, especially while performing dual tasks which is a critical factor in connection with everyday living. There are many controversies about the benefits.

This study assessed the efficacy of motor and cognitive dual-task training programs for improving of balance, quality of life, and fear of falls in people with idiopathic Parkinson’s disease.

About 30 PD patients (Hoehn and Yahr stage II-III while ON medication) were assigned to a cognitive dual-task training group (n = 10), a motor dual-task training group (n = 10), or a single task control group (n = 10). All groups received 30 sessions of different exercises for ten consecutive weeks. Balance, quality of life, and fear of falls respectively assessed with Time Up and Go Test (TUG) and Trial Walk Test (TWT), Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire - 39 (PDQ - 39), and FES-I, before and after training and after one-month follow-up.

No significant time by group interaction were found, suggesting both dual-task and single-task training had a similar effect on outcome measures (P > 0.05). A significant post-training improvement in TUG (F = 535.54, p < 0.001), PDQ - 39 (F = 463.52, p < 0.001), TWT (F = 284.89, p < 0.001), and FES-I (F = 266.4, p < 0.001) was found after single and dual-task training. These improvements were maintained at follow-up, although the effect was slightly reduced (p < 0.05).

Motor/cognitive dual-task training and single-task training were found to be moderately effective in improvement of balance, quality of life, and decrease of fear of falls in people with PD.