Cued task‐specific training is better than exercise in improving sit‐to‐stand in patients with Parkinson's disease: A randomized controlled trial

We examined whether 4 weeks of audio‐visual (AV) cued task‐specific training could enhance sit‐to‐stand (STS) and whether the treatment effects could outlast the treatment period by 2 weeks. Fifty‐two subjects with PD completed the study. They were randomly allocated to receive 4 weeks of AV cued task‐specific training, conventional exercise (Ex), or no treatment (control). Each subject was assessed before, at the end of 2 and 4 weeks of treatment, and 2 weeks after treatment ended. After 2 weeks of training, the AV group significantly increased the peak horizontal velocity (by 13%, P <0.01) when compared with the Ex group. After 4 weeks of training, AV group increased both peak horizontal and vertical velocities, respectively by 18% and 51%, and reduced the time taken to complete STS by 25%. These improvements were greater than those of the Ex group, who showed 8% (nonsignificant between‐group) and 20% ( P <0.05 between‐group) increases respectively for peak horizontal and vertical velocities, and 10% decrease in movement time ( P <0.05). Worth‐noting is the improvements in AV group could be carried over to 2 weeks after treatment ended. These findings provided concrete evidence for the use of AV cued task‐specific training to reeducate STS in patients with PD. © 2007 Movement Disorder Society