Ludovica Tassi

Background and Objectives: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is frequently associated with postural instability, including camptocormia, an involuntary anterior flexion of the thoracolumbar spine. This retrospective observational pilot study evaluated the effects of a postural group rehabilitation protocol on the stabilometric parameters, depressive symptoms, and quality of life in PD patients with camptocormia, and whether gains were maintained during a subsequent two-month period after completion of supervised group rehabilitation, during which patients were provided with a general home-based exercise program. Materials and Methods: Forty patients with idiopathic PD (Hoehn and Yahr II–III) were assessed at baseline (T0), after two months of twice-weekly rehabilitation (T1). At T2, only stabilometric follow-up was performed after two months without group exercise for 38 patients. Outcomes included SPPB, Tinetti, Berg Balance Scale, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, PDQ-39, occiput-to-wall distance and stabilometric analysis. Results: At T1, Hamilton scores decreased from 11.44 ± 4.59 to 3.33 ± 3.04 and PDQ-39 from 82.22 ± 22.36 to 69.72 ± 16.54 (both p < 0.001). Occiput-to-wall distance improved significantly in three of six positions. The EO/EC Perimeter Ratio decreased significantly from T0 to T1 (p = 0.016). Between T1 and T2, EO Perimeter continued improving (p = 0.010), whereas the Perimeter Ratio worsened (p = 0.046), and EC Ellipse area, though non-significant, increased rather than decreased. Conclusions: A two-month protocol was followed by apparent improvements in depression, quality of life, postural alignment, and selected stabilometric parameters. After discontinuation, some parameters appeared to improve while others seemed to worsen, suggesting these effects may not be sustained with uniformity. These preliminary findings should be confirmed with an expanded sample size in larger studies.

Background and Objectives: Postural instability is a key feature of Parkinson’s disease (PD), contributing to disability and increased risk of falls. Pharmacological treatments are important, but it is necessary to integrate them with rehabilitation programs that provide benefits for gait and balance. Focal muscle vibration (fMV) has been proposed as a proprioceptive-oriented intervention to enhance postural control, but evidence in PD remains heterogeneous. This observational, retrospective, and controlled pilot study aimed to evaluate whether the integration of fMV into a standardized rehabilitation program provides additional benefits for balance, gait, and fall risk compared to standardized exercise alone in patients with PD. Materials and Methods: Medical records of 35 outpatients with Parkinson’s disease (Hoehn & Yahr stage II–III) were reviewed. All practiced a standardized rehabilitation exercise group program. Of these, 18 patients agreed to undergo fMV before the exercise sessions (fMV group); 17 patients did not accept fMV due to personal organizational reasons (EG) and were considered a retrospective control group. In detail, (i) the fMV group receivdc focal muscle vibration during the first three weeks in addition to a standardized group rehabilitation exercise program, and (ii) the EG underwent a standardized rehabilitation program only. Both groups then completed an identical 16-week standardized rehabilitation program. Functional outcomes were assessed at baseline (T0) and after one month (T1). Results: Groups were homogeneous at baseline. The fMV group showed significant improvements in SPPB (from 8.16 ± 1.6 to 10.2 ± 1.6 p < 0.001) in the Tinetti total (from 18.38 ± 3.2 to 21.5 ± 2.9 p < 0.05). Stabilometric analysis revealed a significant improvement in the Romberg Quotient in the fMV group (p < 0.005). Conclusions: A short time-limited fMV intervention may act as a sensory primer, enhancing the effects of a subsequent standardized rehabilitation program in PD.