https://doi.org/10.1177/0269215520976265
Clinical Rehabilitation
1–12
© The Author(s) 2020
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DOI: 10.1177/0269215520976265
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CLINICAL
REHABILITATION
Home-based exercise monitored
with telehealth is feasible and
acceptable compared to
centre-based exercise in
Parkinson’s disease:
A randomised pilot study
Allyson Flynn
1,2
, Elisabeth Preston
2
, Sarah Dennis
1,3,4
,
Colleen G Canning
1
and Natalie E Allen
1
Abstract
Objectives: To investigate the feasibility and acceptability of a home-based exercise program monitored
using telehealth for people with Parkinson’s disease.
Design: Pilot randomised control trial.
Setting: University physiotherapy clinic, participants’ homes.
Participants: Forty people with mild to moderate Parkinson’s disease, mean age 72 (6.9).
Intervention: In Block 1 (5 weeks) all participants completed predominantly centre-based exercise plus
a self-management program. Participants were then randomised to continue the centre-based exercise
(n = 20) or to a home-based program with telehealth (n = 20) for Block 2 (5 weeks). The exercises targeted
balance and gait.
Outcomes: The primary outcomes were the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention. Secondary
outcomes were balance, gait speed and freezing of gait.
Results: Adherence was high in Block 1 (93%), and Block 2 (centre-based group = 93%, home-based
group = 84%). In Block 2, the physiotherapist spent 6.4 hours providing telehealth to the home-based
group (mean 10 (4) minutes per participant) and 32.5 hours delivering the centre-based exercise classes
(98 minutes per participant). Participants reported that exercise was helpful, they could follow the home
program and they would recommend exercising at home or in a group. However, exercising at home
1
Discipline of Physiotherapy, Sydney School of Health
Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of
Sydney, NSW, Australia
2
Discipline of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health, University of
Canberra, Bruce, ACT, Australia
3
South Western Sydney Local Health District, Liverpool,
NSW, Australia
4
Ingham Institute of Applied Medical Research, Liverpool,
NSW, Australia
Corresponding author:
Allyson Flynn, Discipline of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health,
Office 11, Clinical Education and Research Centre, University
of Canberra Hospital, 20 Guraguma Street, Bruce, ACT 2617,
Australia.
Email: Allyson.Flynn@canberra.edu.au
976265CRE 0 0 10.1177/0269215520976265Clinical RehabilitationFlynn et al.
research-article 2020
Original Article