Treadmill training in Parkinson's patients after deep brain stimulation: Effects on gait kinematic

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of treadmill training with body weight support on gait kinematics parameters in patients with PD using DBS.

Twelve patients completed the protocols (age: 60.9±10.6 years; disease duration: 20±7 years; and time since DBS surgery: 20±4 months). The same set of patients underwent two trainings protocols and four gait analyses (before and after each training). They received eight weeks of treadmill training without body weight support (16 sessions) in conjunction with physiotherapy program followed by six weeks of wash out period, followed by eight weeks of body-weight-supported treadmill training in conjunction with a same physiotherapy program. The Gait Kinematic Analysis involved eight infrared cameras that detected 19 reflective spherical markers attached in limb lower of patients. Statistical analysis used the Wilcoxon test (p≤0.05).

Both the training no showed significant differences in linear variables. As the angular variables, only training with support showed significant increase of ranges of motion: pelvis tilt, obliquity and rotation amplitude; hip adduction-abduction and rotation amplitude; percentage of peak flexion in swing phase; foot progression amplitude.

The body weight supported treadmill training may promote increase of mobility of lower limbs during gait and it could be a targeted intervention for PD patients treated with DBS.