title: Repetitive step training with preparatory signals improves stability limits in patients with Parkinson's disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the effects of repetitive volitional and compensatory step training with preparatory signals on the limits of stability, postural and gait skills, and spatiotemporal gait characteristics in patients with Parkinson's disease with no falls during the previous 12 months.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized clinical trial with assessor blinded to group assignment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-eight patients with Parkinson's disease with no falls during the previous 12 months.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eligible patients were randomly assigned to an experimental group, which undertook repetitive step training with preparatory visual cues, or a control group, which undertook lower limb strength training for 4 weeks. Outcome measures included limits of stability test, postural and gait sub-scores from Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale motor score (UPDRS-PG), and spatiotemporal gait characteristics. All tests were conducted before and after training at patients' peak medication cycle.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The experimental group showed significant improvements in reaction time, movement velocity, and endpoint excursion of limits of stability, as well as UPDRS-PG score and stride length (p < 0.05), compared with the control group. Both groups significantly increased gait velocity (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Repetitive step training with preparatory cues can enhance limits of stability, postural and gait skills and spatiotemporal gait characteristics in patients with Parkinson's disease with no falls during the previous 12 months.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Xia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Margaret K Y
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Mak
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000368:Aged; D003463:Cues; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology; D011930:Reaction Time; D055070:Resistance Training; D014785:Vision, Ocular; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*