Treadmill training helps Parkinson's patients

Cochrane Researchers say that treadmill training can improve walking movements for Parkinson's disease patients. Initial trials show promise for those suffering from the disease.

One of the main movement disorders that affect Parkinson's patients is Gait hypokinesia. The condition makes a major impact on their lives. Recently health providers have been starting to add exercise treatments in addition to the traditional drug therapies to treat the condition. Data was analyzed from eight trials including 203 patients by researchers. The review has been published by The Cochrane Library. Comparing treadmill training to patients not receiving the training the researchers found a positive impact on walking speed, stride length, and walking distance to measure improvement in gait. Only the number of steps per minute (cadence) had no change with the training reports Medical News Today.

"Treadmill training appears to be a safe and effective way of improving gait in patients with Parkinson's disease," said lead researcher Jan Mehrholz, of the Wissenschaftliches Institut in Kreischa, Germany. "Crucially, we saw very few adverse effects or drop outs in patients given this type of rehabilitation therapy."

Mehrholz cautions that there is need for more trials to know if treadmill training can be a safe routine therapy for all Parkinson's patients and what perimeters need to be for the best results.