title: Polestriding Intervention Improves Gait and Axial Symptoms in Mild to Moderate Parkinson Disease.
abstract: To evaluate the effects of 12-week polestriding intervention on gait and disease severity in people with mild to moderate Parkinson disease (PD).
  
  
  
  A-B-A withdrawal study design.
  
  
  
  Outpatient movement disorder center and community facility.
  
  
  
  Individuals (N=17; 9 women [53%] and 8 men [47%]; mean age, 63.7±4.9y; range, 53-72y) with mild to moderate PD according to United Kingdom brain bank criteria with Hoehn & Yahr score ranging from 2.5 to 3.0 with a stable medication regimen and ability to tolerate "off" medication state.
  
  
  
  Twelve-week polestriding intervention with 12-week follow-up.
  
  
  
  Gait was evaluated using several quantitative temporal, spatial, and variability measures. In addition, disease severity was assessed using clinical scales such as Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), Hoehn & Yahr scale, and Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire-39.
  
  
  
  Step and stride lengths, gait speed, and step-time variability were improved significantly (P<.05) because of 12-week polestriding intervention. Also, the UPDRS motor score, the UPDRS axial score, and the scores of UPDRS subscales on walking and balance improved significantly after the intervention.
  
  
  
  Because increased step-time variability and decreased step and stride lengths are associated with PD severity and an increased risk of falls in PD, the observed improvements suggest that regular practice of polestriding may reduce the risk of falls and improve mobility in people with PD.
authors.affiliation: Center for Adaptive Neural Systems, School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ; Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ. Electronic address: Narayanan.Krishnamurthi@asu.edu.
authors.forename: Narayanan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Krishnamurthi
authors.affiliation: Banner Sun Health Research Institute, Sun City, AZ.
authors.forename: Holly
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shill
authors.affiliation: Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ.
authors.forename: Darolyn
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: O'Donnell
authors.affiliation: Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ.
authors.forename: Padma
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mahant
authors.affiliation: Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ.
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Samanta
authors.affiliation: Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ.
authors.forename: Abraham
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lieberman
authors.affiliation: Center for Adaptive Neural Systems, School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Abbas
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control; D000368:Aged; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Exercise therapy; Gait; Neurological rehabilitation; Parkinson disease; Postural balance; Rehabilitation