Impact of Aquatic Therapy on Balance and Gait in Elderly Patients with Parkinson's Disease

Abstract

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurological ailment that worsens over time and causes severe impairments in gait and balance. As a result, older patients who have PD have a higher risk of falling and a lower quality of life. Aquatic therapy, which makes use of the physical qualities of water to both promote and oppose movement, has emerged as a potentially useful strategy for addressing these issues. what effect does aquatic therapy have on the gait and balance of older people who have Parkinson's disease? A randomised controlled study was conducted in which participants participated in a structured aquatic therapy program for a period of twelve weeks. The program included pre- and post-assessments of the participants' functional mobility, gait speed, and balance. According to the findings, swimming treatment is able to dramatically improve balance and reduce gait asymmetry, in addition to enhancing general mobility and confidence in day-to-day activities. While resistance training helps to improve muscle strength and coordination, the buoyancy of water helps to reduce the chance of falling through it. The use of water therapy as a complementary treatment to conventional rehabilitation for the purpose of enhancing balance and gait in senior people suffering from Parkinson's disease is both safe and effective.