Abstract
ObjectiveTo evaluate the effects of body weight-supported overground gait training (BWSOGT) on motor abilities, such as gait and balance, in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD).DesignRetrospective case-controlled observational study with a 4-week follow-up.SettingInpatient rehabilitation.ParticipantsWe selected 37 of 68 patients with PD. Inclusion criteria were (1) Hoehn & Yahr stage II–IV, (2) no medication adjustment during the study period, (3) at least 1 week since last medication adjustment, and (4) ability to walk more than 10 meters on their own. Exclusion criteria were (1) cerebrovascular disease or other complications affecting movement, (2) difficulty in measurement, (3) early discharge, (4) medication change during the study, and (5) development of complications.InterventionsPatients were divided into two groups. Patients in Group I underwent 20 minutes of BWSOGT with a mobile hoist in addition to the standard exercises; Group II performed 20 minutes of gait training in place of BWSOGT. In both groups, training was performed for a total of 15 times/4 weeks.Main outcome measure(s)Participants were evaluated using the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale total, part II, and part III; 10-m walk test; velocity; stride length; 6-minute walk test; timed up and go test; Berg Balance Scale; and freezing of gait before and after the intervention.ResultsThere were significant decreases in the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale total, part II, and part III in both groups; however, 6-minute walk test, timed up and go test, and freezing of gait results only improved in Group I.ConclusionsBWSOGT for patients with PD improves gait ability and dynamic balance more than standard gait training.
Highlights
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive disease characterized by degeneration and loss of neuromelanin in parts of the brainstem, including the substantia nigra pars compacta of the midbrain and locus coeruleus [1]
It has been reported that gait and balance disorders in patients with PD are difficult to treat [5, 6], it has recently been reported that gait practice using external cueing [7] and body weightsupported treadmill training (BWSTT) improves gait and balance ability in patients with PD [8,9,10]
To compensate for the lack of visual change during BWSTT, we focused on body weight-supported overground gait training (BWSOGT)
Summary
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive disease characterized by degeneration and loss of neuromelanin in parts of the brainstem, including the substantia nigra pars compacta of the midbrain and locus coeruleus [1]. It has been reported that gait training in patients with PD is more effective when performed in situations similar to those faced in daily life [11] and that treadmill gait training with audiovisual stimulation has a greater effect [12]. In normal treadmill gait training, unlike in situations faced in daily life, the patient does not experience a visual change of scenery while walking [13]. To compensate for the lack of visual change during BWSTT, we focused on body weight-supported overground gait training (BWSOGT). BWSOGT is a form gait training performed on the floor that is partially body weight-supported using a walking hoist, which enables the performance of gait training on a floor in a state closer to that in daily life situations than with training on a treadmill because of dynamic visual cues during gait training.
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