Characteristics of participants at baseline
| Exercise group (n = 70) | Control group (n = 72) | |
|---|---|---|
| PD, Parkinson’s disease; SAS, Self-assessment Parkinson’s Disease Disability Scale; UPDRS, Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale. | ||
| *Number of near falls was stated as too large to enumerate for one case in each group. | ||
| †Hoehn and Yahr: 2 = bilateral/midline involvement, no balance impairment; 3 = impaired righting reactions, mild or moderate disability, capable of leading independent lives; 4 = severe disability, can walk but marked disability on activities of daily living. | ||
| ‡UPDRS was not available for one control and two exercise group subjects. | ||
| ¶Madopar or Sinemet. | ||
| §Amantadine, apomorphine, bromocriptine, cabergoline, pergolide, pramipexole, ropinerole. | ||
| Values are number (%) unless stated otherwise. | ||
| Centre | ||
| Christchurch/Bournemouth | 33 (47%) | 34 (47%) |
| Poole | 37 (53%) | 38 (53%) |
| Age (y) | ||
| Mean (SD) | 72.7 (9.6) | 71.6 (8.8) |
| Range | 44–91 | 52–90 |
| Sex | ||
| Male | 38 (54%) | 48 (67%) |
| Female | 32 (46%) | 24 (33%) |
| Time since PD diagnosis (y) | ||
| Mean (SD) | 7.7 (5.8) | 9.0 (5.8) |
| Range | 1–31 | 1–30 |
| No of falls in previous year | ||
| Mean (median) | 60 (6) | 61 (5) |
| Range | 2–1820 | 2–900 |
| No of near falls in previous year* | ||
| Mean (median) | 158 (100) | 193 (100) |
| Range | 0–700 | 0–820 |
| Hoehn and Yahr† | ||
| 2 | 8 (11%) | 8 (11%) |
| 3 | 44 (63%) | 48 (67%) |
| 4 | 18 (26%) | 16 (22%) |
| UPDRS‡ | ||
| Mean (SD) | 19.8 (8.3) | 22.2 (11.9) |
| Range | 3–41 | 4–74 |
| SAS | ||
| Mean (SD) | 56.2 (13.3) | 57.5 (14.1) |
| Range | 36–98 | 36–92 |
| Living status | ||
| Alone | 18 (26%) | 16 (22%) |
| With partner | 43 (61%) | 52 (72%) |
| With family/friends/other | 9 (13%) | 4 (6%) |
| Receiving PD related rehabilitation | 17 (24%) | 16 (22%) |
| Any orthopaedic condition | 48 (69%) | 46 (64%) |
| Any cardiac condition | 30 (43%) | 35 (49%) |
| Any mental health condition | 13/69 (19%) | 20/72 (28%) |
| Taking L-DOPA plus¶ | 62 (89%) | 57 (79%) |
| Taking dopamine agonists§ | 36 (49%) | 49 (68%) |