Anti-Gravity Treadmill Training for Freezing of Gait in Parkinson's Disease

Overview

Journal Brain Sci

Publisher MDPI

Date 2020 Oct 20

PMID 33076383

Citations 6

Authors

Jose Fidel Baizabal-Carvallo

Marlene Alonso-Juarez

Robert Fekete

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor impairment. Freezing of gait, impaired mobility and falls are common problems in these patients. We aimed to evaluate the effect of a novel therapy for these patients.

Methods: We studied patients with moderate to severe freezing of gait who underwent antigravity treadmill training twice a week for 4 consecutive weeks with 50% reduction of body weight.

Results: We enrolled 26 consecutive patients with PD, 19 completed the study. There were 10 males; mean age at evaluation was 72.7 ± 10.1 years. Compared to baseline, patients showed improvement in the Freezing of Gait Questionnaire ( = 0.001); and a mean reduction of 7 s in the Timed Up & Go (TUG) test ( = 0.004). Moderate or significant improvement in gait was reported by 84% of patients.

Conclusions: Antigravity treadmill training improved freezing of gait and mobility in patients with PD.

Citing Articles

Simulating space walking: a systematic review on anti-gravity technology in neurorehabilitation.

Bonanno M, Maggio M, Quartarone A, De Nunzio A, Calabro R J Neuroeng Rehabil. 2024; 21(1):159.

PMID: 39272129 PMC: 11395184. DOI: 10.1186/s12984-024-01449-z.

Research progress on the application of anti-gravity treadmill in the rehabilitation of Parkinson's disease patients: a mini review.

Zheng Y, Shen Y, Feng R, Hu W, Huang P Front Neurol. 2024; 15:1401256.

PMID: 38882698 PMC: 11176542. DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1401256.

Comparison of the effectiveness of anti-gravity treadmill exercises and underwater walking exercises on cardiorespiratory fitness, functional capacity and balance in stroke patients.

Duran U, Duran M, Tekin E, Demir Y, Aydemir K, Aras B Acta Neurol Belg. 2022; 123(2):423-432.

PMID: 35797000 DOI: 10.1007/s13760-022-02012-0.

Effect of Antigravity Treadmill Gait Training on Gait Function and Fall Risk in Stroke Patients.

Oh K, Im N, Lee Y, Lim N, Cho T, Ryu S Ann Rehabil Med. 2022; 46(3):114-121.

PMID: 35793900 PMC: 9263328. DOI: 10.5535/arm.22034.

Future Therapeutic Strategies for Freezing of Gait in Parkinson's Disease.

Cui C, Lewis S Front Hum Neurosci. 2021; 15:741918.

PMID: 34795568 PMC: 8592896. DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2021.741918.

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