PURPOSE: To study the effect of somatosensory focused balance training without cues, on gait and balance in people with early Parkinson's disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a randomised pilot study. Twenty-eight community-dwelling people with early Parkinson's disease were randomised to immediate or delayed start of a 8w-group training in a community fitness location. Outcomes were measured at preintervention and postintervention. In addition, the early start group performed a 6-month follow up. Clinical outcome measures included: Berg Balance Scale (BBS), BDL Balance Scale, Timed Up and Go, 10 m walk test and the motor part of Unified Parkinson's disease Rating Scale. Nonparametric statistics was used for analysis. RESULTS: Twenty-two participants (10 men, 12 female) were analysed (median age 69, Hoehn and Yahr 2.0). The participants improved significantly in performance of BBS (p = 0.007), BDL Balance Scale (p = 0.005), 10 m walk (p = 0.012) and mUPDRS (p = 0.027). At follow up, the improvement had declined. The small sample size restricts generalisability of the results. CONCLUSIONS: The intervention showed positive effects on balance, gait and mUPDRS, suggesting that this specific approach should be further explored as a rehabilitation method to delay balance decline in people in the early stages of Parkinson's disease.

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