title: Treadmill training frequency influences walking improvement in subjects with Parkinson's disease: a randomized pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Treadmill training (TT) has been indicated as a potential therapeutic tool for improving balance and gait in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the lack of evidences about the best modality of intervention (e.g.: number of sessions) and the lack of reliable follow-up measures, made difficult to hand down these results into the clinical practice.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of 3 different modalities of TT program on gait performance in PD patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized, single-blind pilot study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Outpatients clinic, Department of Neuroscience, University of Genoa.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty patients (out of 42 screened) with PD were randomized.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants underwent the same TT program (ten sessions, 45 minute each) but with a different frequency throughout a week: 1) low-frequency (LF) group: 2-times a week; 2) intermediate-frequency (IF) group: 3-times a week; and 3) high-frequency (HF) group: 5-times a week. Patients were evaluated by Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, 10-meter walking test (10M-WT), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Falls Efficacy Scale (FES) and falls diary before TT, immediately after the training was stopped, and 2 and 4 months later.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At baseline, no significant differences were found among groups. Immediately after the end of the TT, TUG Test, 10 MWT, FES and falls diary scores significantly improved in the LF and IF groups, whereas they did not change in the HF group. Improvements were sustained for up 2-months in the IF and LF groups. At 4-months evaluation, outcome measures were either comparable or sometimes even better than at baseline in the LF and IF groups, whereas in the HF group, 10M-WT and FES score worsened.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to the results of this study, we might postulate that the frequency of TT influences short and long-lasting effects on walking performance and falls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study confirms that TT is effective in improving gait disturbances and reducing falls risk in patients with PD. The short- and long-lasting effects induced by TT on walking performance are specifically affected by the frequency of training, possibly in relationship to learning mechanisms and fatigue.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pelosin
authors.affiliation: Section of Human Physiology, Department of Experimental Medicine, Centro Polifunzionale di Scienze Motorie, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Avanzino
authors.affiliation: Azienda Sanitaria Locale 3 Genovese - S.C. Riabilitazione Territoriale N.O. Polo Riabilitativo Levante, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Barella
authors.affiliation: Azienda Sanitaria Locale 3 Genovese - S.C. Riabilitazione Territoriale N.O. Polo Riabilitativo Levante, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bet
authors.affiliation: Azienda Sanitaria Locale 3 Genovese - S.C. Riabilitazione Territoriale N.O. Polo Riabilitativo Levante, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Magioncalda
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Trompetto
authors.affiliation: Section of Human Physiology, Department of Experimental Medicine, Centro Polifunzionale di Scienze Motorie, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Piero
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ruggeri
authors.affiliation: Azienda Sanitaria Locale 3 Genovese - S.C. Riabilitazione Territoriale N.O. Polo Riabilitativo Levante, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Casaleggio
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy - giabbr@unige.it.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Abbruzzese
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000368:Aged; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D055070:Resistance Training / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*