To compare the efficacy of remote rehabilitation training versus in-hospital rehabilitation training in improving motor function and quality of life in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD).

Clinical data of PD patients who underwent remote or in-hospital rehabilitation at Peking Union Medical College Hospital between April 2021 and December 2023 were retrospectively collected. Both groups received structured rehabilitation training three times per week for four consecutive weeks. The remote rehabilitation group performed home-based exercises supervised via a mobile APP, while the in-hospital group underwent therapist-guided training in the hospital. Motor function was assessed before and after treatment using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Timed Up&Go Test (TUGT), Five Times Sit-to-Stand Test (FTSST), Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Part Ⅲ (UPDRS-Ⅲ), and wearable gait analysis. Daily living activities and quality of life were evaluated using UPDRS-Ⅱ and the 39-item Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39).

A total of 107 eligible PD patients were enrolled, including 59 in the remote rehabilitation group and 48 in the in-hospital group. In the remote group, UPDRS-Ⅲ scores improved from 18.20±9.22 to 15.34±7.82, and BBS scores increased from 48.25±6.07 to 51.27±4.50 (both P < 0.05). In the in-hospital group, UPDRS-Ⅲ scores decreased from 20.94±7.90 to 16.96±7.90, and BBS scores improved from 45.85±6.04 to 51.44±3.84 (all P < 0.05). Between-group differences in pre-post changes were significant for BBS, TUGT, FTSST, and PDQ-39 scores (all P < 0.05).

Both remote and in-hospital rehabilitation significantly improve motor function and quality of life in PD patients. However, in-hospital rehabilitation demonstrates superior efficacy in enhancing balance, physical mobility, and quality of life compared to remote rehabilitation.