## 2 Materials and Methods
### Physical Exercise Programs  
The physical exercise program was either individualized or performed as a group therapy. In the individualized program, the patients received a series of exercises for the correction of posture and body alignment. In the group program, the participants performed exercises in pairs (two or more participants) using different objects (balls, canes, dumbbells, elastic bands). The patients were asked before the group inclusion what type of program they were willing to participate. At the beginning, they took part in the individualized program and afterwards in the group therapy. After both experiences, each patient chose a type of therapy. The frequency and intensity of exercises were established after the evaluation of the effort capacity. Both programs consisted of 3 sets for each exercise; a set had 10 repetitions. After each series of 3 sets, patients had a 5 min break. The exercises were of a moderate level of intensity in order to avoid overload and fatigue. At the end of the program, the patients performed stretching for relaxation. The exercises were diverse, with emphasize on those for postural correction. Stability, ability, force, and mobility exercises were also included. One session had a duration of 45 min in both types of programs (individual or group program). The frequency of sessions depended on the patients' availability and physical status. All the participants participated in the physical exercise programs one, twice, or three times per week. The exercises aimed to correct the posture and to increase range-of-motion of the upper and lower limbs joints. With the help of dumbbells, bands, and weights, the muscle strengthening was also obtained, thus, improving the upright posture. The exercises performed in standing position increased stability and ability while standing and walking. The exercises with the fitness ball and from the supine position promoted mobility through stretching. For the individualized program, the exercises started with those in the sitting position, aiming the postural correction of the spine, and upper and lower extremities. The breathing was also trained during these exercises, as well as muscle strengthening using low weights (0.5 kg dumbbells) (Figure 1a-f). The exercises in standing position promoted the extension of the arms and shoulder abduction with extension of the trunk (Figure 2a-d). Patients also performed exercises at the trellis (semi-quads with elbow extension, trunk extension with the use of a fitness ball, trunk extension with shoulder flexion, and knee extension) (Figure 3a-d). \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c} \hline \hline \multicolumn{1}{c}{**Characteristics**} & \multicolumn{1}{c}{**Range**} \\ \hline Age (years) (mean (SD)) & 66.24 (6.53) & 52–76 \\ Height (cm) (mean (SD)) & 170 (10.33) & 156–179 \\ Weight (kg) (mean (SD)) & 77.72 (14.52) & 55–110 \\ BMI (kg/m\({}^{2}\)) (mean (SD)) & 26.87 (4.48) & 18.10–36.40 \\ Medical treatment & & \\ Dopamine agonist (N\%) & 15 (52\%) & \\ Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (N\%) & 9 (31\%) & \\ Levodopa–carbodopa (N\%) & 19 (65.5\%) & \\ Dopaminergic agents (N\%) & 4 (14\%) & \\ Decarboxylase inhibitors (N\%) & 5 (17\%) & \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular} SD: standard deviation; BMI: body mass index; N: number of patients.  
\end{table} 
Table 1: Characteristics of Parkinson’s disease patients. Figure 1: (**a–f**) Individual program: exercises in sitting position (flexion and extension of the cervical spine, flexion, and extension of the shoulders with trunk extension, knee extension). Figure 2: (**a–d**) Individual program: exercises in standing position (extension, abduction and rotations, of the shoulders with trunk extension). For the group program, the exercises were performed in different positions (sitting, standing, and lying down on the fitness mat). In the sitting position (patients positioned back-to-back), patients had to maintain a straight position of the trunk while performing different synchronized movements with elastic bands or small balls (Figure 4a-c).