Research Article Crossover versus Stabilometric Platform for the Treatment of Balance Dysfunction in Parkinson’s Disease: A Randomized Study G. Frazzitta, 1 F. Bossio, 1 R. Maestri, 2 G. Palamara, 1 R. Bera, 1 and D. Ferrazzoli 1 1 Department of Parkinson Disease and Brain Injury Rehabilitation, “Moriggia-Pelascini” Hospital, Gravedona ed Uniti, 22015 Como, Italy 2 Department of Biomedical Engineering, Scientiic Institute of Montescano, S. Maugeri Foundation IRCCS, Montescano, 27040 Pavia, Italy Correspondence should be addressed to G. Frazzitta; frazzittag62@gmail.com Received 23 February 2015; Revised 17 April 2015; Accepted 4 May 2015 Academic Editor: Luis-Mill´ an Gonz´ alez Copyright © 2015 G. Frazzitta et al. his is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Balance dysfunctions are a major challenge in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Previous studies have shown that rehabilitation can play a role in their treatment. In this study, we have compared the eicacy of two diferent devices for balance training: stabilometric platform and crossover. We have enrolled 60 PD patients randomly assigned to two groups. he irst one (stabilometric group) performed a 4-week cycle of balance training, using the stabilometric platform, whereas the second one (crossover group) performed a 4-week cycle of balance training, using the crossover. he outcome measures used were Uniied Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) part II, Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Timed Up and Go (TUG), and Six Minutes Walking Test (6MWT). Results showed that TUG, BBS, and UPDRS II improved in both groups. here was not diference in the eicacy of the two balance treatments. Patients in both groups improved also the meters walked in the 6MWT at the end of rehabilitation, but the improvement was better for patients performing crossover training. Our results show that the crossover and the stabilometric platform have the same efect on balance dysfunction of Parkinsonian patients, while crossover gets better results on the walking capacity. 1. Introduction Balance dysfunction (BD) in Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a disabling symptom that contributes to falls and it impairs the ability to perform the activities of daily living, such as walking, turning, and rising to a standing position [1]. Even with optimal pharmacological and surgical manage- ment, these deicits cannot be controlled satisfactorily and have a negative impact on the quality of life [2]. here is an increasing evidence that physical therapy, especially highly challenging balance exercises, can improve BD and reduce the risk of falls, though the long-term efects of physical therapy interventions need to be further explored [3, 4]. Previous studies have shown the eicacy of training with stabilometric platform and visual feedback for balance in Parkinsonian patients in stage 3 of Hoehn-Yahr scale [5]. Unfortunately, the stabilometric platforms are not widespread and they are hard to ind in the normal gymnasiums, while the crossover is widely used. Crossover is a device that simulates the move- ment of a skater, broadening the support base and improving the functionality of paravertebral muscles. herefore, this device can act on several fundamental aspects of PD such as the narrow-based gait [6], the loss of automatisms (e.g., upper arms swinging) [7], and the altered functionality of the trunk muscles [8]. With its automatic and coordinate movement of upper and lower limbs, crossover could help patients in the unconscious relearning of upper limb swinging and it could also improve the narrow base support [9]. Furthermore, the wide dissemination of crossover could allow Parkinsonian patients an early, continuous, and cheap treatment that could have beneicial efects both on the development and on the control of BD. Hindawi Publishing Corporation BioMed Research International Article ID 878472