Abstract
[Purpose] The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of shoulder external rotation and trunk extension exercises on standing posture improvement using the turning around motion of patients with Parkinson’s disease. [Methods] Sixteen patients with Parkinson’s disease performed shoulder external rotation and trunk extension exercises in three sets of ten times a set, three days a week, for twelve weeks. To measure turning around, the ink footprint method was used. The number of steps and the time taken were measured every week from before until the end of the study. [Results] The number of steps and time taken on each week over the twelve weeks significantly decreased compared with their values before the exercise. [Conclusion] Standing posture improvement exercises can partially help patients with Parkinson’s disease perform the turning around motion in activities of daily living.
