The effect of body weight-supported overground gait training for patients with Parkinson’s disease: A retrospective case-control observational study

Abstract

Objective To 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). Design Retrospective case-controlled observational study with a 4-week follow-up. Setting Inpatient rehabilitation. Participants We 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. Interventions Patients 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. Results There 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. Conclusions BWSOGT for patients with PD improves gait ability and dynamic balance more than standard gait training.

Effects of Speed Dependent Treadmill Training on Dual Task Performance in Patients With Parkinson’s Disease

“…Signi cant difference was found between pre and posttest values of UPDRS-III (p ≤ 0.000), as per Table-I. It is important to note that the effectiveness of speed-dependent treadmill training may vary among individuals, and the optimal training approach should be tailored to the patient's speci c needs and abilities [23].…”

Do Patients with Parkinson’s Disease Benefit from Dynamic Body Weight Support? A Pilot Study on the Emerging Role of Rysen

“…Moreover, patients in the EG had improved BBS scores, reflecting a better balance performance, although this did not reach statistical significance. These findings could be explained by the fact that BWS provided by the Rysen system allowed patients to walk with sustained trunk stability, ensuring a safe environment without the risk of falling [21]. In fact, PD patients may exhibit difficulties in assessing proper movement distances and an altered perception of external spaces and the environment due to a deficit in the integration of sensory inputs [22].…”

Association Between Mitochondrial Function and Rehabilitation of Parkinson's Disease: Revealed by Exosomal mRNA and lncRNA Expression Profiles

“…The assessments included motor function, cognitive function, quality of life, and neuropsychological symptoms necessary for the evaluation of PD motor and non-motor functions. The Movement Disorders Society–Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Part III (MDS-UPDRS-III; Chung et al, 2020 ), the 10-m walk test (10MWT; Tao et al, 2021 ), the 6-min walk test (6MWT; Koyanagi et al, 2021 ), the Five Times Sit-to-Stand Test (FTSST; Duncan et al, 2011 ), the Timed Up-and-Go Test (TUG; Giardini et al, 2018 ), and the Mini Balance Evaluation System Test (Mini-BESTest; Conradsson et al, 2015 ) were used to assess walking and balance function. The Mini-mental State Examination (MMSE; Zhao et al, 2020 ) and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA; Van Steenoven et al, 2014 ) were used to assess cognitive function.…”