Feasibility and preliminary effects of axial rolling on balance and functional mobility in people with Parkinson's disease: a single-blind randomised controlled pilot study.

Abstract

To examine the feasibility of axial rolling using predetermined criteria, and explore changes in balance and mobility following axial rolling in people with Parkinson's disease (PD). In this single-blind pilot RCT, 32 people with PD were randomised to standard multidisciplinary neurological rehabilitation with axial rolling (SMNR-AR) or without (SMNR). SMNR comprised 19 group and 38 individual sessions tailored to individual needs, including physiotherapy, occupational, speech and neuropsychological therapy, or other therapies. SMNR-AR included an additional 15-minute axial rolling, 5x/week for three weeks. Outcomes were assessed at baseline and post-intervention by blinded physiotherapists. The primary outcome was feasibility, evaluated through intervention safety and acceptability, participants' perceived health state, and eligibility, recruitment, retention, and adherence rates. Secondary outcomes included balance, functional mobility, dynamic balance during walking, walking speed, and concerns about falling. Axial rolling was feasible, safe, and well accepted, with eligibility, recruitment, retention, and adherence targets exceeded. Between-group comparisons favoured SMNR-AR for balance and mobility outcomes (<i>p</i> < 0.001-0.027), but not for concerns about falling, which improved only after SMNR. Axial rolling appears safe and feasible in people with PD and may improve balance and mobility but not concerns about falling compared with SMNR.