Objective: The assessment of the biofeedback and AR training effects in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) is worth exploring.

Background: Parkinson disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by motor and non-motor symptoms. The motor symptoms of PD are slow movement, tremor, rigidity, trouble walking, postural gait abnormality connected with high risk of falls. The usual non-motor symptoms include cognitive impairment, depression, dementia. An important element in the treatment of the disease is neurorehabilitation. One of the forms of neurorehabilitation is biofeedback.

Method: 40 patients with PD in Neuromed Medical Centre, Bydgoszcz, Poland were included max 2 years from the diagnosis and max 2 points according to the Hoehn Yahr scale. 40 patients were the control group. Patients were enrolled and divided into two groups: one – received AR and biofeedback training in a period of four weeks and second – control group with no training. The parameters of gait, strength and ranges of motion in large joints were recorded during the study on day 1, day 14, day 28 and day 60. During the study patients from the study group had received AR and biofeedback training from day 1. The training consisted of 20 sessions during 4 week period (5 sessions per week). The effects of AR and biofeedback training were assessed using a Tinetti and Berg scales. Additionally all patients were tested for motor and non-motor symptoms before and after treatment using the unified Parkinson’s disease rating scale, Berg balance scale, Tinelli scale, Hamilton rating scale for depression (HRSD), Hamilton anxiety scale (HAMA), mini-mental state examination scale (MMSE).

Results: The combined clinical scale and multimodal signal analysis results revealed that the tested group significantly improved motor symptoms and increased Berg balance scale scores; the study group significantly improved non-motor symptoms and reduced Hamilton rating scale for depression scores.

Conclusion: Our results suggest that AR and biofeedback may be effective at modifying specific gait characteristics that are associated with falls in PD. Additionally above training can reduce the risk of developing cognitive disorder. Further research is required to better understand the influence of this intervention in Parkinson’s Disease patients.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/could-augmented-reality-with-biofeedback-be-beneficial-in-improvement-of-motor-and-non-motor-symptoms-in-patients-with-parkinsons-disease/