Objective: To assess the effect of treadmill training on step and stride length, cadence, gait velocity and QoL of patients with PD.

Background: Mobility and balance limitations are some of the most significant consequences of Parkinson’s disease (PD) leading to functional impairments and reduced quality of life (QoL). Treadmill Training has been reported to help improve physical function in the Caucasian population. There is however dearth of studies investigating its effect in the African population.

Method: 22 patients (17 males, 5 females) with idiopathic PD, H&Y (2.60±0.44) purposively recruited from the Physiotherapy department of Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Ile-ife, Nigeria, participated in this pretest, posttest study. Baseline parameters of gait (step and stride length, cadence and gait velocity) and quality of life were assessed using, BTS G-walk gait device and PDQ-39 respectively. Participants had 5-10 minutes warm-up (stretching) after which the treadmill training at moderate intensity (50-60%HRmax) for 25 minutes after which the warm-down phase of 5-10mins completed each session. Gait parameters and QoL were re-assessed after 4 weeks and 8 weeks of intervention. Data were analysed using one-way ANOVA and paired t-test. Level of significance (P< 0.05)

Results: The mean age, height, weight and BMI of the participants were 68.18±8.81 years, 1.67±0.09 m, 64.13±12.50 kg and 22.85 kg/m2 respectively. Participants had significant improvements in stride length (F=546.70, p=0.001) and QoL (F=35.76, p=0.001).

Conclusion: Treadmill training significantly improved gait and quality of life of patients with Parkinson’s disease.

« Back to 2019 International Congress

MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/effect-of-8-weeks-treadmill-training-on-selected-gait-parameters-and-quality-of-life-of-patients-with-parkinsons-disease/