Efficacy of Brisk Walking on Improving Balance and Gait Performance, and Functional Mobility in Parkinson's Disease - a Randomized Controlled Trial

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neuro-degenerative disease in older people. Falls are common among people PD with the incidence rate up to 70% and have strong associations with the severity of the disease, balance impairment, and freezing of gait.The abnormal gait characteristics include reduction in stride length, gait speed and arm swing, and increase in cadence. Gait training, balance training, aerobic training, Tai chi and dance training are common types of physical rehabilitation for PD. Brisk walking is a way of walking with a pace faster than normal, and it can improve dynamic balance for senior men and balance function for chronic stroke clients.

Brisk walking also promotes cardiopulmonary fitness and walking endurance in elderly women, healthy middle-age and older adults, active elderly men and chronic stroke clients. Our previous pilot randomized controlled trial on the effects of a 6-week home-based brisk walking program indicates that it is feasible and safe for the early PD population with improved walking capacity measured by 6-minute walk distance. The positive effects could carry over to 6 weeks after treatment completion. Up-to-date, the short- and long-term effects of brisk walking in improving balance and gait performance, and functional capacity in people with PD have not yet been well investigated. In order to promote their balance and functional capacity in longer term, more sustained training and better exercise adherence may be necessary.