Six-Month Community-Based Brisk Walking and Balance Exercise Alleviates Motor Symptoms and Promotes Functions in People with Parkinson's Disease: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine if a six-month brisk walking and balance program could alleviate motor symptoms and improve functional, gait, and balance performance in people with mild to moderate Parkinson's disease.
Results Summary
The brisk walking group showed significant improvements in motor symptoms, gait speed, walking capacity, and dynamic balance compared to the control group, with sustained benefits at six months.
Population
Individuals with mild to moderate Parkinson's disease (n=70, 64 completed).
Effective Dosage
10 supervised 90-minute sessions (weeks 1-6: once/week, weeks 7-26: once/month) plus 2-3 self-practice sessions weekly.
Duration
6 months
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
six-month brisk walking and balance program | decrease | motor symptoms | people with mild to moderate PD | - | alleviates | #1 |
six-month brisk walking and balance program | increase | functional and gait performance | people with mild to moderate PD | - | promotes | #2 |
six-month brisk walking and balance program | increase | walking capacity | people with mild to moderate PD | - | promotes | #3 |
six-month brisk walking and balance program | increase | dynamic balance | people with mild to moderate PD | - | promotes | #4 |
brisk walking (BW) group | decrease | MDS-UPDRS motor score | people with PD | -5.5 vs -1.6 | showed greater significant decreases from baseline than CON group | #5 |
brisk walking (BW) group | decrease | MDS-UPDRS motor score | people with PD | -6.0 vs -1.4 | showed greater significant decreases from baseline than CON group | #6 |
brisk walking (BW) group | decrease | TUG time | people with PD | - | showed greater significant improvement from the baseline than CON group | #7 |
brisk walking (BW) group | increase | FGS | people with PD | - | showed greater significant improvement from the baseline than CON group | #8 |
brisk walking (BW) group | increase | 6MWD | people with PD | - | showed greater significant improvement from the baseline than CON group | #9 |
brisk walking (BW) group | increase | mini-BEST score | people with PD | - | showed greater significant improvement from the baseline than CON group | #10 |
BACKGROUND: In Parkinson's disease (PD), sustained aerobic exercise is a promising therapy in delaying motor disability. Brisk walking is a moderate intensity aerobic training, which could be translated to community practice at low cost, but its effects on motor symptoms remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of a six-month brisk walking and balance program in alleviating motor symptoms, and promoting functional, gait, and balance performance in people with PD. METHODS: Seventy individuals with mild to moderate PD were randomly assigned to a brisk walking (BW) group or an active control (CON) group. BW group received ten 90-minute supervised brisk walking and balance exercise for six months (weeks 1-6: once/week, weeks 7-26: once/month). CON group received upper limb training. Both groups performed 2-3 self-practice sessions weekly. Primary outcome was Movement Disorder Society Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) motor score. Secondary outcomes were fast gait speed (FGS), timed-up-and-go (TUG) time, six-minute walk distance (6MWD), and Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test (Mini-BEST) score. RESULTS: Sixty-four participants (33 BW/31 CON) completed training. BW group showed greater significant decreases from baseline than CON group in MDS-UPDRS motor score after six weeks (-5.5 vs -1.6, p < 0.001) and 6 months (-6.0 vs -1.4, p < 0.001) of training. BW group also showed greater significant improvement from the baseline than CON group for TUG time, FGS, 6MWD, and mini-BEST score (all p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The six-month brisk walking and balance program alleviates motor symptoms, promotes functional and gait performance, walking capacity, and dynamic balance in people with mild to moderate PD.