Treadmill Training to Decrease Gait Variability in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease

Authors

Jordan Rogers, Sheridan College

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2024

Keywords

Parkinson’s disease, gait disturbances, treadmill training, fall prevention

Abstract

Introduction: Among neurological diseases, Parkinson’s disease is one of the fastest growing in Canada. With an aging population, the number of diagnoses made continues to increase on both a daily and yearly basis. Among the many symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, gait disturbances are one of the most common with the unintended consequence of falls. These gait disturbances result from a loss of dopaminergic innervation of the basal ganglia, leading to slow and variable gait rhythm. Purpose: Treadmill training has been demonstrated to alleviate gait disturbances for patients with Parkinson’s disease by creating an external stimulus for gait patterns and rhythmicity. With an increased risk of falls among patients with Parkinson’s comes increased stress on the Canadian healthcare system as well as families and/or caregivers. Improvement of gait can reduce the incidence of falls in an aging population thus reducing injuries such as fracture or sprains. Recommendation: Gait disturbances, more specifically gait variability, is among the many parameters of gait that treadmill training has improved. The speed of a patient’s gait is a significant factor in gait variability and increased risk of falling. By implementing treadmill training into the lives of patients with Parkinson’s disease, improved walking speeds, a decrease in gait disturbances and risks of falling can be some of the many positive benefits for both the patient and their caregiver.

Faculty

Faculty of Applied Health & Community Studies (FAHCS)

Program

Athletic Therapy

Awards

Canadian Athletic Therapists Association 2024 writing award

Copyright

© Jordan Rogers

Terms of Use

Terms of Use for Works posted in SOURCE.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

Original Publication Citation

Rogers, R. (2024). Treadmill Training to Decrease Gait Variability in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease [Unpublished Manuscript]. Faculty of Applied Health & Community Studies, Sheridan College

SOURCE Citation

Rogers, Jordan, "Treadmill Training to Decrease Gait Variability in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease" (2024). Featured Student Work. 7.
https://source.sheridancollege.ca/student_work_fahcs/7