Effects of Treadmill Training with Load on Gait in Parkinson Disease: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to assess the effects of 3% of body weight loads (0%, 5%, and 10%) on treadmill gait training in subjects with Parkinson disease.


METHODS
This study used a randomized controlled single-blind trial.


RESULTS
Spatiotemporal variables demonstrated significant intragroup alterations in all three groups at pretraining and posttraining, with an increase in speed (m/sec; F = 4.73, P = 0.04), stride length (m; F = 12.00, P = 0.002), and step length (m; F = 16.16, P = 0.001) and a decrease in the double-stance phase (%; F = 6.59, P = 0.02) and stance phase (%; F = 4.77, P = 0.04). Intergroup pretraining and posttraining did not exhibit significant differences (F < 2.18, P > 0.14). Angular variables showed significant intragroup alterations, with an increase in knee range of motion (F = 5.18, P = 0.03), and intergroup comparison revealed no significant changes (F = 1.87, P = 0.17).


CONCLUSIONS
Posttraining improvements in speed, stride length, step length, double-stance, stance phase, and knee range of motion were observed in all groups, where no load (0%, 5%, or 10%) had any significant effect, suggesting that the influence of load did not make one experimental condition better than another. All participants benefitted from treadmill gait training, irrespective of the use of load.
From the Department of Physical Therapy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil (LCLT, CRS, AVCS, ARRL); Institute of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, Cruzeiro do Sul University, São Paulo, Brazil (GLG); and Department of Integrated Medicine, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil (COGJ).
Larissa Coutinho de Lucena
LC
Trigueiro
Gabriela Lopes
GL
Gama
Camila Rocha
CR
Simão
Angélica Vieira Cavalcanti de
AV
Sousa
Clécio de Oliveira
Cde O
Godeiro Júnior
Ana Raquel Rodrigues
AR
Lindquist
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D016037:Single-Blind Method