Resistance Training Combined with Balance or Gait Training for Patients with Parkinson’s Disease: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study

Background. Gait and balance disorders in patients with idiopathic Parkinson’s disease (PD) lead to major mobility limitations. To counteract this, physical therapy such as gait, balance, or resistance training is applied. Integrative training methods, which combine these elements, could be particul...

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Main Authors: Johanna Theresia Biebl, Monica Azqueta-Gavaldon, Cornelia Wania, Olena Zettl, Matthias Woiczinski, Leandra Bauer, Claudia Storz, Kai Bötzel, Eduard Kraft
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2022-01-01
Series:Parkinson's Disease
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2022/9574516
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author Johanna Theresia Biebl
Monica Azqueta-Gavaldon
Cornelia Wania
Olena Zettl
Matthias Woiczinski
Leandra Bauer
Claudia Storz
Kai Bötzel
Eduard Kraft
author_facet Johanna Theresia Biebl
Monica Azqueta-Gavaldon
Cornelia Wania
Olena Zettl
Matthias Woiczinski
Leandra Bauer
Claudia Storz
Kai Bötzel
Eduard Kraft
author_sort Johanna Theresia Biebl
collection DOAJ
description Background. Gait and balance disorders in patients with idiopathic Parkinson’s disease (PD) lead to major mobility limitations. To counteract this, physical therapy such as gait, balance, or resistance training is applied. Integrative training methods, which combine these elements, could be particularly effective. Objective. The objective of this study is to evaluate and compare the effects of two integrative interventions on gait and balance of patients with PD. Methods. Twenty-six patients with PD received either resistance training in combination with gait training (gait resistance training, GRT) or resistance training in combination with balance training (stability resistance training, SRT) for six weeks. Gait and balance outcome parameters were assessed before, immediately after, and six weeks after the interventions. The primary outcome parameters were the functional reach test to evaluate balance and stride length to evaluate gait. Secondary outcomes included further gait analysis parameters, knee extension strength, the timed up and go test, and the six-minute walk test. Results. The functional reach test results were significantly better after the intervention in both groups. Stride length increased significantly only in the GRT group. Several further gait parameters and the six-minute walk test improved in the GRT group, and the increase in gait speed was significantly higher than in the SRT group. The SRT group performed better after the intervention regarding the timed up and go test and knee extension strength, the latter being significantly more improved than in the SRT group. At six-week follow-up, the improvement in functional reach was maintained in the SRT group. Conclusions. Integrative therapies, combining gait or balance training with resistance training, have specific positive effects in PD rehabilitation. More pronounced effects on gait parameters are achieved by GRT, while SRT has more impact on balance. Thus, the combination of both training methods might be particularly efficient in improving the mobility of PD patients.
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spelling doaj-art-ee517519bc8246419f8dee80c244ceea2025-08-20T02:21:41ZengWileyParkinson's Disease2042-00802022-01-01202210.1155/2022/9574516Resistance Training Combined with Balance or Gait Training for Patients with Parkinson’s Disease: A Randomized Controlled Pilot StudyJohanna Theresia Biebl0Monica Azqueta-Gavaldon1Cornelia Wania2Olena Zettl3Matthias Woiczinski4Leandra Bauer5Claudia Storz6Kai Bötzel7Eduard Kraft8Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma SurgeryDepartment of Orthopaedics and Trauma SurgeryDepartment of Orthopaedics and Trauma SurgeryDepartment of Orthopaedics and Trauma SurgeryDepartment of Orthopaedics and Trauma SurgeryDepartment of Orthopaedics and Trauma SurgeryDepartment of Orthopaedics and Trauma SurgeryDepartment of NeurologyDepartment of Orthopaedics and Trauma SurgeryBackground. Gait and balance disorders in patients with idiopathic Parkinson’s disease (PD) lead to major mobility limitations. To counteract this, physical therapy such as gait, balance, or resistance training is applied. Integrative training methods, which combine these elements, could be particularly effective. Objective. The objective of this study is to evaluate and compare the effects of two integrative interventions on gait and balance of patients with PD. Methods. Twenty-six patients with PD received either resistance training in combination with gait training (gait resistance training, GRT) or resistance training in combination with balance training (stability resistance training, SRT) for six weeks. Gait and balance outcome parameters were assessed before, immediately after, and six weeks after the interventions. The primary outcome parameters were the functional reach test to evaluate balance and stride length to evaluate gait. Secondary outcomes included further gait analysis parameters, knee extension strength, the timed up and go test, and the six-minute walk test. Results. The functional reach test results were significantly better after the intervention in both groups. Stride length increased significantly only in the GRT group. Several further gait parameters and the six-minute walk test improved in the GRT group, and the increase in gait speed was significantly higher than in the SRT group. The SRT group performed better after the intervention regarding the timed up and go test and knee extension strength, the latter being significantly more improved than in the SRT group. At six-week follow-up, the improvement in functional reach was maintained in the SRT group. Conclusions. Integrative therapies, combining gait or balance training with resistance training, have specific positive effects in PD rehabilitation. More pronounced effects on gait parameters are achieved by GRT, while SRT has more impact on balance. Thus, the combination of both training methods might be particularly efficient in improving the mobility of PD patients.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2022/9574516
spellingShingle Johanna Theresia Biebl
Monica Azqueta-Gavaldon
Cornelia Wania
Olena Zettl
Matthias Woiczinski
Leandra Bauer
Claudia Storz
Kai Bötzel
Eduard Kraft
Resistance Training Combined with Balance or Gait Training for Patients with Parkinson’s Disease: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study
Parkinson's Disease
title Resistance Training Combined with Balance or Gait Training for Patients with Parkinson’s Disease: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study
title_full Resistance Training Combined with Balance or Gait Training for Patients with Parkinson’s Disease: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study
title_fullStr Resistance Training Combined with Balance or Gait Training for Patients with Parkinson’s Disease: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study
title_full_unstemmed Resistance Training Combined with Balance or Gait Training for Patients with Parkinson’s Disease: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study
title_short Resistance Training Combined with Balance or Gait Training for Patients with Parkinson’s Disease: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study
title_sort resistance training combined with balance or gait training for patients with parkinson s disease a randomized controlled pilot study
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2022/9574516
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