Trunk Control Exercises and Mirror Therapy on Balance and Posture in Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson's disease (PD) is movement disorder of the nervous system that worsens over time. As nerve cells (neurons) in parts of the brain weaken or are damaged or die, people may begin to notice problems with movement, tremor, stiffness in the limbs or the trunk of the body, or impaired balance. As these symptoms become more obvious, people may have difficulty walking, talking, or completing other simple tasks. Not everyone with one or more of these symptoms has PD, as the symptoms appear in other diseases as well.

Both non-modifiable (age, gender) and modifiable risk factors such as occupation, exposure to pesticides, and depression have an association with PD. Several studies have suggested that Parkinson disease is more common in men. The MT mechanism is based on the concept of visual illusion. The movement of the non-paretic part in front of the mirror (reflective side) is perceived as that of the paretic body part (hidden beside the mirror). MT allows an individual to have an experience of normal movement, even for the severely paralyzed limb. In addition, wherever other rehabilitation methods fail to induce normal movements without any compensation, MT may act as a foundation step for further motor therapy. The perception of movement illusion, a neuropsychological phenomenon may induce neural activation of the lesioned brain and enhance associated motor recovery. Therefore the aim of this study is to compare the effects of truck control exercise program and mirror therapy on balance and postural instability in patients with Parkinson's disease.