The effect of body weight-supported overground gait training for patients with Parkinson’s disease: A retrospective case-control observational study

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 16; no. 7; p. e0254415
• Main Authors: Koyanagi, Yasuki, Fukushi, Isato, Nakamura, Masatoshi, Suzuki, Kouji, Oda, Nobuhito, Aita, Takashi, Seki, Hareaki
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: San Francisco Public Library of Science 20-07-2021; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Balance; Biology and Life Sciences; Body weight; Cerebrovascular diseases; Complications; Consent; Criteria; Disease control; Ethics; Evaluation; Fitness equipment; Gait; Health aspects; Hospitals; Human motion; Measuring instruments; Medicine and Health Sciences; Movement disorders; Neurodegenerative diseases; Neurology; Normal distribution; Observational studies; Parkinson's disease; Patients; Physical Sciences; Physiological aspects; Rehabilitation; Training; Variance analysis; Velocity; Walking; Japan
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0254415

To evaluate the effects of body weight-supported overground gait training (BWSOGT) on motor abilities, such as gait and balance, in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Retrospective case-controlled observational study with a 4-week follow-up. Inpatient rehabilitation. We selected 37 of 68 patients with PD. Inclusion criteria were (1) Hoehn & Yahr stage II-IV, (2) no medication adjustment during the study period, (3) at least 1 week since last medication adjustment, and (4) ability to walk more than 10 meters on their own. Exclusion criteria were (1) cerebrovascular disease or other complications affecting movement, (2) difficulty in measurement, (3) early discharge, (4) medication change during the study, and (5) development of complications. There were significant decreases in the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale total, part II, and part III in both groups; however, 6-minute walk test, timed up and go test, and freezing of gait results only improved in Group I. BWSOGT for patients with PD improves gait ability and dynamic balance more than standard gait training.