OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of water-based exercise on motor function, balance function and walking ability in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). METHODS: Forty patients with primary PD were randomly divided into conventional land-based rehabilitation therapy group (land-based group, n = 20) and water-based exercise group (water-based group, n = 20). Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale III (UPDRS III) was used to evaluate the patients' motor function. Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and Timed Up and Go Test (TUGT) were used to evaluate balance function. The 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) and 10-Meter Walk Test (10MWT) were used to evaluate walking ability. All the tests were carried out before and after 8-week training in 2 groups. RESULTS: Patients in both groups had a significant decrease on UPDRS III score (p = 0.000), TUGT (p = 0.000) after training, while they had a significant increase on BBS score (p = 0.000), 6MWT (p = 0.000) and 10MWT (p = 0.000). The water-based group had significantly lower UPDRSIII score (p = 0.037), shorter TUGT (p = 0.013) and higher BBS score (p = 0.018) than those in land-based group after training. CONCLUSIONS: Both conventional land-based training and water-based training had positive effect on motor function, balance function and walking ability in PD patients. The water-based training had more positive effect than land-based therapy on motor function and balance function.

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