OBJECTIVES: To examine the effect of integrated motor learning clinical pilates protocol we developed for patients with Parkinson's Disease (pwPD) on providing enduring motor skills in walking, balance, reaction time, cadence, and functional mobility at 3-months follow-up. DESIGN: A parallel-group, randomized controlled trial (RCT). SETTING: XXX Medical Center, XXX, and XXX Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Center, Nicosia. PARTICIPANTS: 32 pwPD with Hoehn&Yahr stages 2-3 were randomly assigned to the Parkinsonpilates Group (PP) and the Conventional Physiotherapy (CP) Group. INTERVENTIONS: Both groups received 60 min of training, twice a week, and a home physiotherapy program 4 times a week, for 12 weeks. The intervention group received PP, while the CP group received general physiotherapy training for PD. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcomes were untimed Gait and Balance Scale, Cadence, and Nelson Foot Reaction Test scores. The secondary outcomes were The Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale-III subscales, Timed Up and Go Test, Functional Reach Test, and Berg Balance Scale. Outcomes were convened 4 times: pre-test, 6. weeks, post-treatment, and after 3-month follow-up. RESULTS: At post-test, gait and balance, reaction time, functional mobility, static and dynamic balance showed a significant improvement in PP compared to CP, and the motor examination was similar(p >
.05). In addition to these results at follow-up, functional mobility was similar(p >
.05) and cadence(p <
.05) showed a significant improvement in PP. In addition, according to pairwise comparisons, the PP showed a significant improvement in cadence and reaction time in all 4 measures compared to CP. CONCLUSIONS: More studies are needed to clarify the effects of the program we developed for PD. It should not be ignored that our protocol can be improved again according to the suggestions of future studies.