title: Improved clinical status, quality of life, and walking capacity in Parkinson's disease after body weight-supported high-intensity locomotor training.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of body weight-supported progressive high-intensity locomotor training in Parkinson's disease (PD) on (1) clinical status; (2) quality of life; and (3) gait capacity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Open-label, fixed sequence crossover study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University motor control laboratory.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients (N=13) with idiopathic PD (Hoehn and Yahr stage 2 or 3) and stable medication use.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients completed an 8-week (3 × 1h/wk) training program on a lower-body positive-pressure treadmill. Body weight support was used to facilitate increased intensity and motor challenges during treadmill training. The training program contained combinations of (1) running and walking intervals, (2) the use of sudden changes (eg, in body weight support and speed), (3) different types of locomotion (eg, chassé, skipping, and jumps), and (4) sprints at 50 percent body weight.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Movement Disorders Society-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS), Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire-39 items (PDQ-39), and the six-minute walk test were conducted 8 weeks before and pre- and posttraining.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At the end of training, statistically significant improvements were found in all outcome measures compared with the control period. Total MDS-UPDRS score changed from (mean ± 1SD) 58±18 to 47±18, MDS-UPDRS motor part score changed from 35±10 to 29±12, PDQ-39 summary index score changed from 22±13 to 13±12, and the six-minute walking distance changed from 576±93 to 637±90m.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Body weight-supported progressive high-intensity locomotor training is feasible and well tolerated by patients with PD. The training improved clinical status, quality of life, and gait capacity significantly.
authors.affiliation: Department of Exercise and Sport Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. mrose@ifi.ku.dk
authors.forename: Martin H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Rose
authors.forename: Annemette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Løkkegaard
authors.forename: Stig
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sonne-Holm
authors.forename: Bente R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Jensen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D017079:Exercise Tolerance / Q000502:physiology*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011788:Quality of Life; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*; D016474:Weight-Bearing / Q000502:physiology