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Immediate effects of perturbation treadmill training on gait and postural control in patients with Parkinson's disease.

Gait & posture
October 1, 2016
Sarah Klamroth et al. (8 authors)
Journal ArticleRandomized Controlled TrialHuman StudyClinical
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to determine the immediate effects of perturbed treadmill walking on gait and balance in patients with Parkinson's disease compared to unperturbed treadmill walking.

Results Summary

The experimental group showed significant improvements in overground walking speed and reduced gait variability, while the control group exhibited increased postural sway. Patients with more pronounced motor impairment in the experimental group demonstrated larger improvements in walking speed and stance phase symmetry.

Population

39 Parkinson's disease patients in stages 1-3.5 of the Hoehn and Yahr Scale.

Effective Dosage

20 minutes of treadmill walking.

Duration

Single session.

Interactions

None mentioned.

Extracted Claims (6)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
perturbation treadmill training
increase
overground walking speed
patients with Parkinson's disease
-
significantly increased
#1
perturbation treadmill walking
decrease
gait variability during treadmill walking
patients with Parkinson's disease
-
significantly decreased
#2
treadmill walking
increase
sway area
control group
-
increased
#3
treadmill walking
no change
postural sway measures
patients with Parkinson's disease
-
No other postural sway measures changed
#4
perturbation treadmill training
increase
overground walking speed
patients with more pronounced motor impairment
-
demonstrated larger increases
#5
perturbation treadmill training
increase
stance phase symmetry
patients with more pronounced motor impairment
-
demonstrated larger increases
#6
Abstract

The study investigates immediate adaptations of gait and balance to a single session of perturbed treadmill walking in patients with Parkinson's disease. 39 Parkinson's patients in stage 1-3.5 of the Hoehn and Yahr Scale were randomized into one of two groups, stratified by disease severity: The experimental group (n=19) walked on a treadmill prototype which constantly applied perturbation by small three-dimensional tilting movements of the walking surface. The control group (n=20) trained on the identical treadmill without perturbations. Patients walked on the treadmill for 20min. Primary outcome measure was overground walking speed. Secondary outcomes were postural sway during quiet standing and spatiotemporal gait parameters during treadmill walking. Outcomes were measured repeatedly throughout the training session and after 10min retention. The experimental group significantly increased overground walking speed after intervention compared to the control group (p=0.014; ES=+0.41). Gait variability during treadmill walking significantly decreased after walking with perturbation. Sway area increased with treadmill walking only in the control group (p=0.009; ES=+0.49). No other postural sway measures changed over time. Subgroup analyses revealed that in the experimental group patients with more pronounced motor impairment demonstrated larger increases in overground walking speed (p=0.016; ES=+0.40) and stance phase symmetry (p=0.011; ES=-0.42). In conclusion, a single session of perturbation treadmill training led to gait improvements, which were more pronounced compared to unperturbed treadmill walking. Effects on static postural sway were less pronounced.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
Adaptation, PhysiologicalAgedAnimalsExercise TherapyFemaleGait Disorders, NeurologicHumansMaleMiddle AgedParkinson DiseasePostureTreatment OutcomeWalking
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy75/10
Quality85/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations38
Citations/Year4.2
Relative Citation Ratio2.43
NIH Percentile80%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.75
Weight Score2.02
Normalized Score0.67
Related Supplements
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