Immediate effects of speed-dependent treadmill training on gait parameters in early Parkinson’s disease11No commercial party having a direct financial interest in the results of the research supporting this article has or will confer a benefit upon the author(s) or upon any organization with which the author(s) is/are associated.

Abstract

Objective To compare the immediate effects of different training interventions on gait parameters in patients with early Parkinson's disease (PD). Design Randomized, multiple intervention crossover pilot study. Setting A rehabilitation center for adult persons with neurologic disorders. Participants Seventeen patients with early PD (Hoehn and Yahr stages I through III) and gait disturbances. Intervention Patients were randomly assigned to varying sequences of the following interventions over 4 consecutive days: structured speed-dependent treadmill training (STT), limited progressive treadmill training (LTT), conventional gait training (CGT), and a control intervention. Main outcome measures Basic gait parameters (overground walking speed and stride length at self-adapted speeds) and parameters of gait analysis based on vertical ground reaction forces. Results STT and LTT improved all basic gait parameters and the double stance duration compared with preintervention values (P Conclusion The main disturbances of gait in PD, namely, speed and stride length, can be improved through a single intervention of STT or LTT, but not through CGT and the control intervention.