Campbell (2024) The Impact of Aquatic Therapy on Individuals with Parkinson’s Disease

This capstone project focused on developing and implementing an aquatic therapy program to improve balance and reduce falls in individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD). The program was conducted weekly, lasting 60 minutes per session, and targeted core strength and postural stability through water-based exercises. Participants completed pre- and post-intervention assessments, including the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, along with qualitative feedback.

Although the decrease in TUG scores was not statistically significant, participants showed a mean improvement of 2.23 seconds, suggesting a positive trend in mobility. Qualitative analysis highlighted four key themes: increased social participation, improved balance, enhanced confidence in daily activities, and reduced fear of falling. Participants expressed a sense of community and described aquatic therapy as an encouraging and beneficial experience.

The study concludes that aquatic therapy offers a safe, supportive environment for PD patients to enhance mobility, reduce fall risk, and improve overall quality of life. The project also demonstrated the feasibility of community-based aquatic programs tailored to this population.