OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of a physical therapy (PT) program in groups of people with Parkinson's disease (PD). DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial with a crossover design. SETTING: Two outpatient rehabilitation clinics in Boston and Amsterdam, respectively. PARTICIPANTS: Sixty-eight subjects diagnosed with typical, idiopathic PD, Hoehn and Yahr stage II or III, and stable medication use. INTERVENTION: Group A received PT and medication therapy (MT) for the first 6 weeks, followed by MT only for the second 6 weeks. Group B received only MT for the first 6 weeks and PT and MT for the second 6 weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The Sickness Impact Profile (SIP-68), the mobility portion of the SIP-68, the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), and comfortable walking speed (CWS) at baseline, 6-week, 12-week, and 3-month follow-up. RESULTS: At 6 weeks, differences between groups were significant for the SIP mobility (p = 0.015; effect size (ES) = 0.55), for CWS (p = 0.012; ES 0.49), for the activities of daily living (ADL) section of the UPDRS (p = 0.014; ES 0.45), and for the total UPDRS (p = 0.007; ES 0.56). The total SIP and the mentation and motor sections of the UPDRS did not differ significantly between groups. Significant differences were found at 3 months compared with baseline for CWS, the UPDRS ADL, and total scores. CONCLUSIONS: People with PD derive benefits in the short term from PT group treatment, in addition to their MT, for quality of life related to mobility, CWS, and ADLs; long-term benefits were found in CWS, UPDRS ADL, and total scores but varied between groups.

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