title: The effects of treadmill or overground walking training program on gait in Parkinson's disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Gait impairment in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients is characterized by the inability to generate appropriate stride length. Treadmill training has been proposed as a therapeutic tool for PD patients. However, it remains unknown whether treadmill training effects are different from overground walking training. Thus, our goal was to explore the effects of two training programs, walking on a treadmill and walking overground, in PD patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  22 PD patients were randomly assigned to a treadmill or overground training group. The training program consisted of 5 weeks (3 sessions/week). Before and after the program we evaluated gait kinematics during walking at preferred and maximal speed; Timed Up and Go (TUG); static posturography and knee extensors strength. Gait parameters were reevaluated in the treadmill training group one month after the cessation of the training.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Preferred speed walking improved in both groups after the training program. The treadmill training program, but not the overground, led to an improvement in the stride length at the preferred and maximal walking speed in the PD patients. In addition, the treadmill training group showed improvement of the TUG and static posturography tests. The improvement in gait parameters was maintained one month after the cessation of the treadmill training.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provides evidence of a specific therapeutic effect of treadmill training on Parkinsonian gait and balance. Walking on a treadmill may be used as an easy, effective and accessible way to improve the stride length and balance in PD patients.
authors: Physical Therapy Department, University School of Physical Therapy, University of A Coruña, A Coruña, Spain.
authors: O
authors: O
authors: Bello
authors: J A
authors: JA
authors: Sanchez
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Lopez-Alonso
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Márquez
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Morenilla
authors: X
authors: X
authors: Castro
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Giraldez
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Santos-García
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Fernandez-del-Olmo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Balance; Exercise; Gait; Parkinson; Treadmill