Long-term Effects of Combined Balance and Brisk Walking in Parkinson's Disease
Long-term Effects of Combined Balance and Brisk Walking in Parkinson's Disease
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized with both
 clinical motor and non-motor features, as well as decrease in balance performance and walking
 endurance. The non-motor symptoms such as depression, anxiety, sleep disturbance and fatigue
 wound impose negative impacts on the quality of life of the individuals with PD. Aerobic
 endurance training can improve physical capacity and reduce those non-motor symptoms such as
 mood and sleep disorders. Based on the results of our recent pilot study, brisk walking is a
 safe and moderate-level aerobic walking exercise for improving walking capacity in the PD
 population up to 6 week after treatment ended. Community-based balance training could also
 enhance balance performance and dual-task gait performance up to 12-month follow-up for
 people with PD. The primary purpose of this proposed study is to investigate the short- and
 long-term effects of a 6-month balance and brisk walking programme in alleviating non-motor
 and motor symptoms in people with PD. The secondary objective is to examine the short- and
 long-term effects of a 6-month balance and brisk walking program on enhancing walking
 capacity, balance performance, and quality of life.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Parkinson disease diagnosed by neurologist with Hoehn & Yahr stage 2 or 3

 -  Having a 30-meter walking ability

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Significant neurological condition (other than Parkinson's disease)

 -  Musculoskeletal conditions affecting gait, balance or functions

 -  Had received deep brain stimulation surgery

 -  Cognitive impairment with Montreal Cognitive Assessment score <24

 -  Present with on-off motor fluctuations.