Effects of different percentages of body weight-supported treadmill training in Parkinson’s disease: a double-blind randomized controlled trial
Background/aim
Body weight-supported treadmill training (BWSTT) might have greater effects than conventional treadmill training (TT) in neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s disease (PD). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of different percentages of BWSTT on gait, balance, quality of life, and fatigue in PD.


Materials and methods
Thirty-five patients with moderate to advanced PD were randomized into three BWSTT groups according to the supported percentage of body weight: 0% BWSTT (control group; unsupported TT), 10% BWSTT, or 20% BWSTT. Five patients were excluded due to early discharge and 30 patients completed BWSTT sessions lasting 30 min, 5 days a week, for 6 weeks during their inpatient rehabilitation stay. The primary outcome was 6-min walk distance (6MWD). Secondary outcomes were Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Nottingham Health Profile (NHP), Fatigue Impact Scale, and Fatigue Severity Scale scores. Measurements were performed before and after the training.


Results
The unsupported TT group demonstrated no significant improvement in the outcome measures after a 6-week training except for BBS and NHP emotional subscores. Moreover, the NHP pain subscore increased in the unsupported TT group after training. The 10%  and  20%  supported  BWSTT  groups  demonstrated  significant  improvements  in  6MWD  (P  =  0.004  and  P  <  0.001,  respectively),  UPDRS - motor score (P = 0.012 and P = 0.005, respectively), NHP pain subscore (P = 0.003 and P = 0.002, respectively), and fatigue (P = 0.005 for both) after training. The 20% BWSTT provided the highest improvement in balance among the three groups (P < 0.001) and greater relief of fatigue than 10% BWSTT (P = 0.002).


Conclusion
Six  weeks  of  BWSTT  improved  walking  distance  and  balance  ability,  relieved  fatigue,  and  additionally  reduced  pain  in  patients with moderate to advanced PD.
['Atan|Tuğba|T|0000-0003-1229-8679', 'Özyemişci Taşkıran|Özden|Ö|0000-0002-2052-6072', 'Bora Tokçaer|Ayşe|A|0000-0003-4363-724X', 'Kaymak Karataş|Gülçin|G|0000-0001-5117-3911', 'Karakuş Çalışkan|Aslı|A|0000-0002-4786-2076', 'Karaoğlan|Belgin|B|0000-0002-9152-703X']
D000368:Aged D001835:Body Weight D004311:Double-Blind Method D005080:Exercise Test D005081:Exercise Therapy D005221:Fatigue D005260:Female D005684:Gait D006801:Humans D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D010300:Parkinson Disease D004856:Postural Balance
treadmill training Parkinson’s disease gait balance fatigue