Rehabilitation for Postural Deformities in Parkinson’s Disease: An Update and Novel Findings

Rehabilitation is one of important treatments for postural deformities in patients with Parkinson’s disease. Various possible mechanisms have been suggested. Among these, soft tissue changes such as reduced flexibility and muscle weakness and proprioceptive disintegration that likely induce impaired vertical perception seem to be partially improved by rehabilitation. For soft tissue changes, stretching, strengthening and functional exercise are adopted. For proprioceptive disintegration, postural reeducation exercises are adopted to promote proper postural realignment in each plane. This short review provides an update on the rehabilitation for patients with Parkinson’s disease with anterior bending posture and lateral bending posture, and introduces novel rehabilitation interventions and assessment methods for postural deformities.