Why Not a Global Postural Reeducation as an Alternative Therapy Applied to Alzheimer’s Patients in Nursing Homes? A Pioneer Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Introduction: The classical gymnastics has always given great importance to exercises of r achis extension and abduction of the arms during deep inhalation to acquire a greater thoracic capacity. Objective: The aim of this study is to organize the concentration and the self-limited capacity of patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) thanks to the physical and r espiratory exercise modalities of global postural reeducation. Design: A randomized controlled trial was conducted. Setting: Nursing homes. Participants: Patients with probable AD diagnosis. Intervention: The global postural reeducation method (GPR) was implemented for a total of 72 treatment sessions with a frequency of 3 times a week, for 24 weeks consecutively. Main Outcome Measures: The Neuropsychiatric Inventory, Mini Mental State Examination, Geriatric Depression Scale, Quality of Life in Alzheimer’s Disease and Tinetti Scale and respiratory rate frequency (RSP/F) were applied. Results: Ninety elderly people participated in this study, precisely 50 women and 40 men aged 67–92 years (mean age = 81.17, SD = 5.24). The therapy had a significant effect on the difference between groups in all the outcomes (p < 0.05 in all cases) with a large effect size with exception of the RSP/F (p > 0.05). Conclusion: This study demonstrated a very good tolerance rate on behalf of the significant results achieved.