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Updated: Jun 18, 2025
A Novel Approach to Assess Motor Outcome of Deep Brain Stimulation Effects in the Hemiparkinsonian Rat: Staircase and Cylinder Test
Published on: May 31, 2016
EFFECTS OF TREADMILL GAIT TRAINING ON BALANCE IN PARKINSON'S PATIENTS AFTER DEEP BRAIN STIMULATION
Viviane Carolina Sales de Andrade1, Angelica Castilho Alonso1,2, Natalia Mariana Silva Luna1,2
1Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Laboratório de Estudo do Movimento, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Objective:
After deep brain stimulation (DBS), patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) typically still present significant gait and postural stability problems, and thus additional interventions are needed. In this way, our purpose was evaluate the comparative effectiveness of treadmill training, with and without body weight support, on balance outcomes among patients with PD after DBS.
Methods:
Eleven patients with PD that were using bilateral subthalamic nucleus DBS were evaluated using Time Up and Go test (TUG); Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and Static Posturography. In phase 1, all subjects participated in 8-weeks of treadmill training in conjunction with conventional physiotherapy. After six weeks (wash-out), each patient then participated in a subsequent 8-weeks of treadmill training with partial body weight support.
Results:
After the phase 1, there were improvements on the cognitive TUG performance (Before: 15.7 ± 1,8 sec; After: 13.7 ± 3.1 sec; p < 0.01) and an increase of anteroposterior and medio-lateral body oscillation with eyes closed. After the phase 2, there were improvements in conventional (Before: 12.3 ± 2.0 sec; After: 10.7 ± 1.7 sec; p < 0.01) and cognitive (Before: 14.6 ± 3.5 sec; After: 12.5 ± 1.6 sec; p < 0.05) TUG performances. There were no significant changes in the Berg Balance Scale following either training protocol.
Conclusion:
Both trainings improved static and dynamic balance and had similar results; however, supported treadmill training seemed to be a potentially superior option, as patients tended to feel safer. Level of Evidence II, therapeutic studies - investigation of treatment outcomes.
