Session Information
Date: Wednesday, June 22, 2016
Session Title: Huntington's disease
Session Time: 12:00pm-1:30pm
Location: Exhibit Hall located in Hall B, Level 2
Objective: This study evaluated the effects of gait and balance training on walking economy in a people with Huntington’s Disease (HD).
Background: Gait and balance disturbances are frequent in HD and are associated with decreased walking economy.
Methods: The study was carried out on twenty-four participants with HD: eleven HD participants were early-stage HD (Unified Huntington’s Disease Rating Scale Total Functional Capacity [TFC] stages I and II) and thirteen mid-stage HD (TFC stage III). Sex ratio, age, body height and body mass (BM) were similar in both groups. Participants followed a 3-week-long gait and balance training (5 days/week, for 1.5 h/day). The physiological response and walking economy were evaluated during walking on the treadmill with two constant speeds (3.6 and 4.8 km.h-1). During the test, the following indicators were recorded: tidal volume (TV), breathing frequency (BF), pulmonary ventilation (VE), oxygen uptake (VO2) and heart rate (HR). Walking economy was expressed as absolute oxygen uptake (L.min-1) and oxygen uptake relative to BM (mL.kg-1) and LBM (mL.kgLBM-1).
Results: Before and after training VE, BF, TV, VO2 (absolute and relative to BM and LBM) and HR during walking were similar in both groups. The VE, BF and HR significantly decreased (in comparison to baseline measurement) during walking after physical training in both groups. The VO2 relative to BM in both groups, and relative to LBM in HD mid stage group decreased after training. The walking economy was significantly improved after training only during walking with speed 3.6 km.h-1.
Conclusions: The present study shows that walking economy in early and mid stage HD can be improved after gait and balance training. We suggest that exercise therapy should be used in HD as a complementary method to pharmacotherapy because it is safe and efficient.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
J.L. Kubica, J. Szymura, E. Mirek, M. Filip, M. Wiecek, M. Maciejczyk, M. Rudzinska, U. Pustulka-Piwnik, J. Stozek, S. Pasiut. The effects of gait and balance training on walking economy in early and mid stage Huntington’s disease [abstract]. Mov Disord. 2016; 31 (suppl 2). https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/the-effects-of-gait-and-balance-training-on-walking-economy-in-early-and-mid-stage-huntingtons-disease/. Accessed June 14, 2025.« Back to 2016 International Congress
MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/the-effects-of-gait-and-balance-training-on-walking-economy-in-early-and-mid-stage-huntingtons-disease/