Downhill walking training in individuals with Parkinson's disease: a randomized controlled trial.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of downhill walking training on gait and thoracic kyphosis in patients with Parkinson's disease. Thirty-three patients with Parkinson's disease were randomized into an experimental group (n = 16) or a control group (n = 17). Subjects in the experimental group underwent 4-wks of downhill walking training, whereas subjects in the control group received conventional therapy for 4 wks. Gait parameters, thoracic kyphosis, and muscle strength of knee were measured at pretraining, posttraining, and at 1-mo follow-up. There were significant interaction effects between group and time of evaluation on gait parameters and thoracic kyphotic curve. There was also a significant group effect for muscle strength of knee extensors. Our results suggest that downhill walking training is beneficial for improving gait performance in patients with Parkinson's disease and may contribute to maintenance of thoracic posture in these subjects.