Abstract

Background and Objective: Impaired executive function can adversely affect motor performance and is closely related to fall risk in parkinson's patients. Aerobic exercise improves executive function and prevent falling in healthy older adults. The aim of this study was to investigate the predictors for using aerobic exercise to improve executive functions and decrease fall in parkinson patients. Materials and Methods: About 36 idiopathic recurrent faller parkinson's patients treated by aerobic treadmill exercise for two months day after day each session 30 min. They assessed by screening part of rehacom, up and go test, faller diary pre and post-treatment. Results: There was no significant difference in mean value of age between the successful and unsuccessful group (p = 0.0758). Patients in the successful group were significantly (p = 0.0130) less severe (2.15±0.881) than patients in the unsuccessful group (3.20±1.033). Patients in the successful group had significantly (p = 0.0012) shorter ( less) disease duration (3.88±2.304 year) than patients in the unsuccessful group (7.200±3.084 year). According to receiver operator characteristic ROC curve, the cutoff point for severity of illness was 4, the cutoff point for duration of illness was 5 years. In the successful group there were significant difference between TUG-Pre and TUG-Post (p = 0.0001), dairy-pre and dairy-post (p = 0.0001) and rehacom-pre and rehacom-post (p = 0.0001). Conclusion: Duration and severity of illness are considered significant predictors for the use of aerobic exercises for improving the executive functions in PD patients. Improvement of executive functions is significantly correlated with improving the risk of falling in patients with PD.