Perturbation-based balance training leads to improved reactive postural responses in individuals with Parkinson's disease and freezing of gait.

Abstract

Perturbation-based balance training (PBT) exposes individuals to a series of sudden upright balance perturbations to improve their reactive postural responses. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of a short PBT program on body balance recovery following a perturbation in individuals with freezing of gait due to Parkinson's disease. Volunteers (mean age = 64 years, SD = 10.6) were pseudorandomly assigned either to a PBT (n = 9) or to a resistance training (RT, n = 10) group. PBT was implemented through balance perturbations varying in the kind, direction, side, and magnitude of support base displacements. Both groups exercised with progressive difficulty/load activities twice a week for four weeks. Specific gains and generalization to dual-tasking and faster-than-trained support base displacements were evaluated 24 h after the end of the training, and retention was evaluated after 30 days of no training. Results showed that, compared to RT, PBT led to more stable postural responses in the 30-day retention evaluation, as indicated by decreased CoP displacement, velocity, and time to direction reversal and reduced numbers of near-falls. We found no transfer either to a dual-task or to a higher perturbation velocity. In conclusion, a training program based on diverse unpredictable balance perturbations improved the stability of reactive postural responses to those perturbations suffered during the training, without generalization to more challenging tasks.