Effects of movement rehabilitation compared to exercises in Parkinson disease

INTERVENTION: Movement strategies ‐ Participants randomized to the movement strategy training group learned how to use cognitive strategies to enhance walking, turning, standing up from a chair and obstacle negotiation as detailed in the protocol by Morris ME (2000) Physical Therapy 80(6); 578‐97. A maximum of 16 sessions of up to 45 minutes of therapy is provided over a two week inpatient period (ie. 1 x 45 minutes session daily for 2 weeks). CONDITION: Parkinson's disease. PRIMARY OUTCOME: Disability ‐ Measured by the United Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) provides patients self reports of their level of ability for difference functional tasks of everyday living, mobility, cognition and dyskinesia. SECONDARY OUTCOME: Walking speed ‐ Measured over 10m by a blinded tester using a hand held stop watch. INCLUSION CRITERIA: Idiopathic Parkinson disease. Inpatient. Medically stable.