Objective Assessment of Electro-acupuncture Benefit for Improving Balance and Gait in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease (P3.074)

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Assessing effectiveness of a standardized electro-acupuncture (EA) regimen for improving balance and gait in patients with idiopathic Parkinson’s Disease (PD) using objective modalities employing innovative body-worn sensor technology. BACKGROUND: Balance and gait disturbances, predictors of falling risk and impaired quality of life, have emerged as major therapeutic concerns in PD. While acupuncture is increasingly used as a complementary PD therapy, objective measures of its effectiveness in improving clinically relevant ambulatory performance in PD are lacking. DESIGN/METHODS:Thirteen PD patients were randomly assigned to an intervention group (n=10) or a control group (n=3). All patients underwent either real or sham acupuncture for 3 weeks in once-weekly, 30-minute sessions. Outcomes were assessed in an off-medication state at baseline prior to and at the end of therapy. Measurements included balance (assessed by ratio of mediolateral center of mass sway to anteroposterior sway during eyes open, eyes closed, and eyes open dual-task), gait (assessed during single-task vs. dual-task habitual or fast walking), postural transitions (assessed by Timed Up and Go, TUG), quality of life (SF12) and UPDRS. RESULTS:Significant improvement occurred in the intervention group compared to baseline for balance, gait, TUG, SF12, UPDRS II on fall and UPDRS III. Overall balance improved by 31% (reduction in ML/AP sway); gait speed increased by 10%, and stride length increased by 5% among all participants in active group for all different conditions of testing. No improvement for any measurement was found in the control group compared to baseline. No between group difference was observed for baseline assessments and demographic information (P>0.11). After treatment, between groups comparison revealed that balance, gait speed and stride length during all conditions was significantly better in the intervention group compared to control group (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: EA is an effective therapy in improving certain aspects of balance and gait disorders in PD. Study Supported by:

Disclosure: Dr. Lei has nothing to disclose. Dr. Toosizadeh has nothing to disclose. Dr. Schwenk has nothing to disclose. Dr. Sherman has nothing to disclose. Dr. Karp has nothing to disclose. Dr. Parvaneh has nothing to disclose. Dr. Esternberg has nothing to disclose. Dr. Najafi has nothing to disclose.