The motor and the non-motor outcomes of Nordic Walking in Parkinson's disease: A systematic review.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate the motor and non-motor outcomes of Nordic Walking (NW) in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) through a systematic review of existing studies.
Results Summary
NW was found to improve symptom severity, walking speed, and gait pattern during the ON-phases of pharmacotherapy, with benefits less consistent during OFF-phases and follow-up without regular training. NW was well accepted and relatively safe, with no significant adverse effects reported.
Population
Patients at early stages of Parkinson's disease with low to moderate severity (318 participants across 13 studies).
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
4 - 24 weeks
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nordic Walking | no change | motor and non-motor outcomes | 318 patients at the early stages of PD with low to moderate severity | - | reported either benefits or no effects | #1 |
Nordic Walking | neutral | - | 318 patients at the early stages of PD with low to moderate severity | - | well accepted | #2 |
Nordic Walking | neutral | - | 318 patients at the early stages of PD with low to moderate severity | - | relatively safe | #3 |
Nordic Walking | decrease | symptom severity | 318 patients at the early stages of PD with low to moderate severity | - | improved | #4 |
Nordic Walking | increase | walking speed | 318 patients at the early stages of PD with low to moderate severity | - | improved | #5 |
Nordic Walking | increase | gait pattern | 318 patients at the early stages of PD with low to moderate severity | - | improved | #6 |
Nordic Walking | no change | - | 318 patients at the early stages of PD with low to moderate severity | - | benefits were less consistent | #7 |
Nordic Walking | increase | overall mobility | patients with Parkinson's disease | - | may contribute to the maintenance of the overall mobility | #8 |
BACKGROUND: The current study investigated the motor and the non-motor outcomes of Nordic Walking (NW) in Parkinson's disease (PD) using a systematic review of studies with any design. METHODS: The search of PubMed, PsycInfo, Medline and SCOPUS until November 2018 identified k = 13 relevant studies: five randomised controlled-trials (RCTs) and eight observational studies. Study designs, intervention, patient and outcome details were coded. Study quality was assessed with the Physiotherapy Evidence Database scale. RESULTS: All studies reported either benefits or no effects of NW in 318 patients at the early stages of PD with low to moderate severity. NW was well accepted and relatively safe. Symptom severity, walking speed and gait pattern consistently improved after 4 - 24 weeks of NW relative to baseline or any control condition during the ON-phases of pharmacotherapy. The NW benefits were less consistent during the OFF-phases and at the follow-up in the absence of regular training. CONCLUSIONS: NW may contribute to the maintenance of the overall mobility in addition to pharmacotherapy. Since the quality of studies was poor to moderate, future single-blind RCTs should investigate the clinical relevance of the NW outcomes and the training parameters necessary to optimise the benefits of NW in PD.