Evaluation of Ankle Pump Combined with Compression Abdominal Belts on Orthostatic Hypotension in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease: A Prospective Analysis

Abstract Purpose: To explore the impact of ankle pump exercises combined with automated compression abdominal belts on orthostatic hypotension in patients with Parkinson’s disease. Methods: A randomised controlled trial was conducted from November 2021 to March 2023 at the Department of Neurology, Capital Medical University Hospital. Ninety-two patients with Parkinson’s disease with orthostatic hypotension were divided into four groups: ankle pump exercise, abdominal belt, combined intervention (exercise + belt), and a control group, with 23 patients in each group. Interventions lasted for 10 days. The primary endpoint was the improvement of the orthostatic BP drop at 1/3/5 minutes after 10 days of intervention compared to baseline. Secondary endpoints included improvements in orthostatic intolerance symptoms as assessed by the Orthostatic Hypotension Symptom Assessment (OHSA), the Orthostatic Hypotension Daily Activities Scale (OHDAS), and the Orthostatic Grading Scale (OGS). Results: Compared to the control group, the combined intervention group showed a significant improvement in systolic blood pressure after standing for 3 minutes (-12.1 mmHg, 95% CI: -20.8 to -3.5; P=0.03) and 5 minutes (-11.9 mmHg, 95% CI: -20.7 to -3.2; P=0.04). Significant enhancements in OHSA, OHDAS, and OGS scores were also observed in the combined intervention group. Conclusion: Ankle pump exercise combined with automated compression abdominal belts can effectively reduce orthostatic hypotension and alleviate symptoms of orthostatic intolerance in patients with Parkinson’s disease, potentially enhancing their quality of life.