Introduction: The classical gymnastics has always given great importance to exercises of -rachis 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 -respiratory 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 sessionswith 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.
Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; Gymnastics; Posture; Reeducation; Respiration.
© 2020 S. Karger AG, Basel.