Abstract
Background and objectives: Motor rehabilitation improves physical mobility and quality of life in Parkinson’s disease (PD). As specialized rehabilitation is expensive and resource-consuming, there is a need for simpler, cost-effective methods. The purpose of the study was to determine whether Nordic Walking (NW) training may support the management of motor disability in PD. Materials and Methods: Forty patients (median age 64.0 years, range 50–75 years) with idiopathic PD, Hoehn and Yahr stages II–III, were randomly assigned to NW or standard rehabilitation (SR) programs, comprising twelve rehabilitation sessions conducted bi-weekly throughout the 6-week study period. Results: Median Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale part III scores were significantly reduced with NW, by 8.5, and with SR, by 6.0 points (both p < 0.001), with significantly greater improvement with NW than with SR (p = 0.047). Gait quality and balance control, measured using the Dynamic Gait Index, improved with NW by a median of 8.0 and with SR by 5.5 points (both p < 0.001), with slightly greater improvement with NW, compared to the SR group (p = 0.064). Quality of life, assessed using the Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39), improved with NW by a median of 15 and with SR by 12 points, p = 0.001 and p = 0.008, respectively. Conclusions: The 6-week Nordic Walking program improves functional performance, quality of gait, and quality of life in patients with PD and has comparable effectiveness to standard rehabilitation.
Highlights
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative disorders, affecting 1%of the population above the age of 60 years and 4% of the population above the age of 80 years [1].Increasing dopaminergic deficits in PD result in bradykinesia, resting tremor, rigidity, and postural instability, which inevitably lead to general motor impairment
The median values of Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), Dynamic Gait Index (DGI), TUG, and PDQ-39 significantly improved in both rehabilitation groups
After 6 weeks of the Nordic Walking (NW) program, functional impairment reduction measured by UPDRS part III scores was significantly greater (p = 0.047) than after standard rehabilitation (SR)
Summary
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative disorders, affecting 1%of the population above the age of 60 years and 4% of the population above the age of 80 years [1].Increasing dopaminergic deficits in PD result in bradykinesia, resting tremor, rigidity, and postural instability, which inevitably lead to general motor impairment. Parkinson’s disease (PD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative disorders, affecting 1%. Dopaminergic treatment reduces motor symptoms of PD; it has to be supported by constant active motor rehabilitation to maintain patients’ physical fitness necessary for their independence [2,3,4]. Regular motor rehabilitation in PD was shown to reduce disease symptoms and improve physical fitness and quality of life [5,6]. Diverse methods, and different activities are utilized in patients with PD [7]. Most of these rehabilitation programs, require individual. Motor rehabilitation improves physical mobility and quality of life in Parkinson’s disease (PD). The purpose of the study was to determine whether Nordic Walking (NW) training may support the management of motor disability in PD
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