The Effect of Exercise Therapy Combined with Environmental Manipulation on the Walking Function of Patients with Chronic Schizophrenia and Drug-induced Extrapyramidal Symptoms: A Randomized Crossover Comparative Study

Purpose: This study was designed to investigate the effects of exercise therapy combined with environmental manipulation on walking function in patients with chronic schizophrenia and druginduced extrapyramidal symptoms. Subjects: Eighteen patients with chronic schizophrenia complicated by drug-induced extrapyramidal symptoms who were hospitalized in the locked ward of psychiatric hospital C were investigated in this study. Methods: This was a randomized crossover comparative study. Patients were randomly divided into group A (n = 10) and group B (n = 8). Both groups underwent the same exercise therapy for 4 weeks, following which the presence or absence of significant differences in walking function were determined. Subsequently, without a rest period, group A and group B began exercise therapy with and without environmental manipulation, respectively. Each group switched the exercise regimen after 4 weeks. Results: Significant changes in walking function were observed after the environmental manipulation. In addition, the creation of a performance checklist was the most effective aspect of environmental manipulation. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that exercise therapy combined with environmental manipulation may be effective in improving the walking function of patients with chronic schizophrenia and drug-induced extrapyramidal symptoms.