Symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD) progress despite optimized medical treatment. The present study investigated the effects of a flexibility and relaxation programme, walking, and Nordic walking (NW) on walking speed, stride length, stride length variability, Parkinson-specific disability (UPDRS), and health-related quality of life (PDQ 39). 90 PD patients were randomly allocated to the 3 treatment groups. Patients participated in a 6-month study with 3 exercise sessions per week, each lasting 70 min. Assessment after completion of the training showed that pain was reduced in all groups, and balance and health-related quality of life were improved. Furthermore, walking, and Nordic walking improved stride length, gait variability, maximal walking speed, exercise capacity at submaximal level, and PD disease-specific disability on the UPDRS in addition. Nordic walking was superior to the flexibility and relaxation programme and walking in improving postural stability, stride length, gait pattern and gait variability. No significant injuries occurred during the training. All patients of the Nordic walking group continued Nordic walking after completing the study.
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases with a prevalence of 100–200/100000 people worldwide [
The pathological definition of PD includes the loss of dopaminergic cells in the substantia nigra pars compacta with the subsequent lack of the neurotransmitter dopamine [
We selected from our data base 500 PD patients who participated in sports. To choose appropriate sports activities for the study, we asked this group to complete a questionnaire. According to the patients replies, they liked the social aspects of sports activities and wanted to improve their health, fitness and mobility. Complex and difficult sport activities with an increased risk of falls were not preferred. Walking, Nordic walking, gymnastics, biking, and dancing were most popular. Nordic walking is a physical activity consisting of walking with poles similar to ski poles. It has evolved from an off-season ski training. The poles are designed for the purpose of activating the upper body during walking. The poles are equipped with rubber or spike tips and the walking itself resembles Nordic style skiing.
Patients are asked to walk in an upright position, not leaning forward or backward. The head should be up and looking forward and the poles are held close to the body. When the leading foot is moving forward, the opposite arm swings forward to waist height. The opposite pole strikes the ground level with the heel of the leading foot. The patients were reminded not to plant the pole in front of their feet. The poles remain pointing diagonally backward and the pole is pushed as far back as possible. The arm straightens and the hand is opening off the grip by the end of the arm swing. Nordic Walking is not expensive and can be performed round the year. Compared to walking, there is a stronger involvement of the upper body in Nordic Walking which might burn more calories [
The second hypothesis was that the effects of Nordic walking are superior to those of the walking and the flexibility and relaxation programme.
90 PD patients, 45 men and 45 women (UK brain bank criteria) [
Study design.
Prior to the training patients underwent a medical examination [
Patients did not participate in other sports programmes during the study but were allowed to continue physiotherapy and participated in family leisure activities. These activities were recorded.
Patients were randomly allocated to one of the three training groups. Randomisation was conducted by using a computer-generated sequence. One training group performed Nordic walking (NW) training, 3 times per week for 6 months. Each session lasted 70 minutes and consisted of a warming up including some flexibility and strength exercises with and without the poles. One session per week was dedicated to practising NW technique, the other sessions focused on endurance training. Patients were encouraged to increase the intensity of the training by walking faster or uphill and to increase the distance walked. Each training session finished with a cooling down programme. Training sessions took place in a park and a forest near to the university hospital. Technical performance was assessed by video recording. In addition, NW instructors used a checklist for assessment of the technical skills (i.e., diagonal sequence, opening of the hands, and planting of the poles).
The second training group conducted a walking training. Training sessions were performed three times per week over 6 months. The training session also lasted 70 min and consisted of a warming up, technique training, endurance training and a cooling down. Instructors emphasised on arm swing and coordination of upper and lower limbs. One session per week included walking uphill to improve muscle strength.
The third group performed flexibility exercises and a relaxation training. The training took place in a gym. Each session lasted 70 min. The training focused on stretching, improving balance and range of movements. The flexibility and relaxation programme did not include aerobic exercises, while aerobic fitness and endurance were additionally addressed by walking and NW training. Nordic walking is thought to be a more vigorous exercise than walking. Thus, the training programmes differ in the amount of aerobic exercises included. Three physiotherapists who were trained as NW instructors conducted the training sessions of the three groups.
The Borg scale was applied as a measure [
Since training should also help patients to adapt a more active life style, partners were offered six training sessions of the training programme, which was allocated to the patient.
Primary outcome measures were maximal walking speed on a treadmill ergometer, a 12-m and 24-m walking test, stride length and gait variability, assessed at different walking speeds, specific PD disability on the UPDRS (unified Parkinson’s disease rating scale) [
Secondary outcome measures were physical activity in everyday life and adverse effects of the training.
Adverse effects included cardiovascular side effects such as exercise-induced hypotension and injuries, caused by fall or overuse.
Outcome was assessed by two movement disorder specialists (IR, SM), who were blinded to the treatment arm.
The unified Parkinson’s disease rating scale (UPDRS) is the most frequently used outcome measure in clinical trials in Parkinson’s disease [
Posture, postural stability, alternating movements and leg agility were assessed by the single items of the UPDRS motor scale (score of each item ranging between 0 and 4 points).
For assessment of health-related quality of life, patients filled in the Parkinson’s disease-specific questionnaire (PDQ 39), which consists of 8 subscales: subscale 1 mobility (max 40 points); subscale 2 activities of daily living (max 24 points), subscale 3 emotional well-being (max 24 points), subscale 4 stigma (max 16 points), subscale 5 social support (max 12 points), subscale 6 cognition (max 16 points), subscale 7 communication (max 12 points), and subscale 8 bodily discomfort (max 12 points) [
For exclusion of significant depression and anxiety the hospital anxiety and depression scale was applied [
Minimental state examination (MMSE) was used as screening tool for dementia. The test assesses orientation, registration, attention, calculation, recall, language, writing, and copying. The maximum score is 30 points; high scores indicate good performance [
Pain was rated by using a visual analogue scale for several regions of the body (neck, arms, hands, back, iliosacral joint, hip, knees, feet, and toes). Pain was recorded to evaluate potential adverse events of the training, health risks, injuries and overuse injuries during the training period [
Balance was tested by using the Berg-Balance scale [
Patients were asked to walk as fast as possible a distance of 12 m, and after a 5-minute break a distance of 24 m with a turn after 12 m. The time was taken for the 12 m distance and the 24 m distance.
Stride time (time from initial contact of one foot to subsequent contact of the same foot), percentage of double stance time ([time of bilateral foot contact/stride time] × 100), stride length (distance from initial contact of one foot to subsequent contact of the same foot) and the coefficient of stride length ([standard variation/mean] × 100) [
For better comparison of the training effects patients walked at 6 different walking speeds (1.5 km/h, 1.8 km/h, 2.1 km/h, 2.4 km/h, 2.7 km/h, and 3 km/h) prior and after the training period. The treadmill was equipped with force platforms, that allowed an accurate determination of foot-ground contact. Patients were not allowed to use the handrails of the treadmill for support.
Patients performed a maximal exercise test on a medical motorized treadmill ergometer (Woodway PPS Med) and were instructed to walk on the treadmill. Switching to jogging was prohibited, since walking and jogging put different demands on the cardiovascular and muscular system. The test started at a walking speed of 3.0 km/h. Every 2-minute the speed was increased by 0.5 km/h. At the end of each 2-minute stage blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) were taken. BP and HR responses to maximal and submaximal exercise testing were recorded. Maximal exercise testing assesses the aerobic capacity and requires subjects to exercise to exhaustion. However, fatigue, pain, and muscle weakness might hinder patients from successfully completing the test. Therefore, we assessed as well performance at submaximal exercise intensity. Blood pressure and heart rate changes between resting conditions and maximal walking speed were recorded at baseline and final assessment. Maximal exertion was defined as reaching a heart rate of 220—age or a perceived exertion of 17 on the Borg scale [ the BP and HR responses to increasing work load between a walking speed of 3 km/h and 5 km/h were assessed, BP and HR changes between resting conditions and the walking speed which corresponded to the maximal walking speed at the first assessment were recorded and compared to the BP and HR change between resting conditions and maximal walking speed at the first assessment.
Patients were secured with a safety harness, suspended from the ceiling, without weight support. Before testing patients were given 5 min to familiarise themselves with the treadmill locomotion. Patients were not allowed to use the handrails of the treadmill for support.
To assess the attractiveness of the exercise programme for the patients, all patients were contacted by phone six months after completion of the training period and a short telephone interview was conducted. Patients were asked the following questions. Do you continue the instructed training regime practiced during the course of the study? If not, did you stop exercising or did you switch to another sports activity? How often do you exercise per week? Do you exercise on your own or together with your spouse or your friends?
Statistical analysis was conducted using IBM SPSS Statistics 18.0 (IBM, Somers, USA) statistical software. Formal power analysis was performed prior to the study. The results indicated that a sample size of 30 subjects per group was sufficient. The power analysis regarding the UPDRS was based on an improvement of the UPDRS motor scale by 5 points, which is clinically relevant according to the findings of Schrag et al. [
The study was approved by the Ethical Committee of the Justus-Liebig University Giessen, and all patients gave written informed consent.
Demographic data of the participating patients are shown in Tables
Demographic data
Flexibility and relaxation group | Walking group | Nordic walking group | |
Age (years) | |||
BMI ( | |||
Length (cm) | |||
Body weight (kg) | |||
Duration of disease (months) | |||
Weekly sports activity in the past (min) |
Comorbidity of PD patients
Comorbidity | Flexibility & relaxation group | Walking group | Nordic walking group |
Percentage (%) | Percentage (%) | Percentage (%) | |
Hypertension | 40 | 30 | 33 |
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) | 10 | 13.3 | 10 |
Coronary heart disease | 6 | 6.2 | 8.3 |
Thyroid disease | 16.7 | 16.7 | 20 |
Diabetes mellitus | 8 | 10 | 10 |
Hypercholesterinaemia | 40 | 40 | 33 |
Osteoarthritis | 36 | 40 | 36 |
Table
Medication used by the patient groups.
Medication | Relaxation and flexibility group | Walking group | Nordic walking group | |||
Total number | (%) | Total number | (%) | Total number | (%) | |
Levodopa | 20 | 66 | 22 | 73.3 | 20 | 66.7 |
Dopamine agonists | 27 | 90 | 26 | 86.7 | 26 | 86.7 |
Mao-Inhibitor | 12 | 40 | 13 | 43.3 | 12 | 40 |
COMT-Inhibitor | 11 | 36.7 | 12 | 40 | 10 | 33 |
Amantadine | 10 | 33 | 10 | 33 | 9 | 30 |
4 | 13.3 | 3 | 10 | 3 | 10 | |
ACE-inhibitors | 3 | 10 | 3 | 10 | 3 | 10 |
Antidepressants | 7 | 23.3 | 8 | 26.7 | 8 | 26.7 |
(%) = percentage.
All patients showed normal results in the MMSE screening test for dementia. Three patients scored in a range of mild depression at baseline on the HAD, two patients at the final assessment. None of the patients became depressed during the study.
All patients attended at least 70 of 78 training sessions offered. The attendance of training sessions was similar in all three groups. Figure
Borg scale: Patients of the Nordic walking group and walking group perceived more exertion than the flexibility and relaxation group suggesting that the training of both groups was more demanding.
The technique of the Nordic walking training appeared to be very challenging for the patients. Patients had difficulties in opening the hands during the push-off phase. Furthermore, patients tended to carry the pole without weight loading with the more affected hand. However, the group managed to learn the Nordic walking technique, but the level of performance differed between the patients. 17 of the patients mastered the NW technique very well, 10 patients showed a good technical performance and 3 patients performed poorly. Both the NW group and the walking group had difficulties in employing a diagonal sequence and an interlimb coordination. Patients did not notice the technical deficits and depended on the coaching of the instructors.
Two patients of the NW group and one patient of the walking group experienced exercise-induced hypotension after intense walking uphill in hot weather. Patients felt dizzy but did not lose consciousness and recovered after fluid intake within 10 min.
During the supervised 6-month training period, four patients of the NW group fell due to obstacles. The falls did not lead to severe injuries. Five patients twisted their ankles during cross-country walking, but only one patient complained of pain and missed three training sessions. Two patients of the NW group developed shoulder pain which required medical treatment with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Both patients abstained from sports activities for one week.
Four patients of the walking group had falls during the supervised 6-month training period. Two patients tripped over roots and two patients slipped on wet ground while walking downhill. There was one fall in the flexibility and relaxation group during an attempt to stand up from the floor.
Muscle soreness was reported in all groups by 15% of the patients during the first three weeks of exercising.
Apart from the initial muscle soreness and the few injuries caused by falls and overuse, physical activity had a positive effect on pain. About 70% of patients complained of pain prior to the study. Table
Localisation of pain:comparison between baseline and final assessment.
Localisation of pain | Flexibility & relaxation group | Walking group | Nordic walking group | |||
Percentage (%) | ||||||
Baseline | Final | Baseline | Final | Baseline | Final | |
Neck | 53.3 | 40.0 | 56.6 | 43.3 | 53.3 | 40.0 |
Arm | 30.0 | 30.0 | 30.0 | 33.3 | 43.3 | 33.3 |
Hand, finger | 36.6 | 36.6 | 43.3 | 36.7 | 43.3 | 20.0 |
Chest | 23.3 | 26.6 | 20.0 | 20.0 | 20.0 | 20.0 |
Back | 73.3 | 43.3 | 66.6 | 40.0 | 73.3 | 40.0 |
Hip | 33.3 | 26.6 | 36.6 | 23.3 | 36.6 | 20.0 |
Iliosacal joint | 36.6 | 20.0 | 43.3 | 26.6 | 50.0 | 33.0 |
Leg | 30.0 | 26.6 | 33.0 | 26.6 | 36.6 | 20.0 |
Feet, toes | 26.6 | 26.6 | 23.3 | 23.3 | 26.6 | 20.0 |
Intensity of pain was significantly lower at the second assessment compared to baseline assessment (
UPDRS score did not differ significantly at baseline assessment between the groups. The sum-score of the UPDRS decreased in the Nordic walking and walking group significantly between baseline and the final assessment (
The UPDRS sum score and UPDRS motor score (subscale 3) did not decrease in the flexibility and relaxation group but decreased significantly in the Nordic walking and walking group resulting in a group effect. T0 = first assessment, T1= second assessment, F&R = Flexibility and Relaxation
Table
Comparison of improvement in leg agility, alternating hand movements, posture, postural stability, freezing, and gait pattern between the training groups.
Parameters | Flexibility and relaxation group | Walking group | Nordic walking group | ||||||
no | yes 1 pt | yes 2 pts | no | yes 1 pt | yes 2 pts | no | yes 1 pt | yes 2 pts | |
Percentage (%) | |||||||||
Leg agility left | 60 | 30 | 10 | 23.3 | 36.7 | 40 | 20 | 30 | 50 |
Leg agility right | 56 | 40 | 3 | 23.3 | 40 | 36.7 | 16.7 | 40 | 43.3 |
Alternating movements right hand | 53.3 | 33 | 13 | 30 | 43.3 | 26.7 | 23.3 | 30 | 46.7 |
Alternating movements left hand | 60 | 20 | 20 | 30 | 40 | 30 | 26.7 | 33 | 40 |
Posture | 43.3 | 23.3 | 33 | 36.7 | 36.7 | 26.7 | 20 | 40 | 40 |
Freezing | 53.3 | 36.7 | 10 | 23.3 | 40 | 36.7 | 20 | 40 | 40 |
Postural stability | 46.7 | 43.3 | 10 | 36.7 | 26.7 | 36.7 | 16.7 | 40 | 43.3 |
Gait pattern | 50 | 43.3 | 6.7 | 40 | 23.3 | 36.7 | 13.3 | 33 | 53.3 |
The first column indicates the percentage of patients who did not improve, the next column the percentage of patients who improved by 1 point, and the second column indicates the percentage of patients who improved by 2 points. The Bold value presents the percentage of all patients of a group who improved regardless of the amount of improvement.
The score of the PDQ 39 decreased in all groups indicating a better health-related quality of life (
There were no differences between groups at baseline testing on the Berg balance scale scores. Although patients performed on a high level at baseline (
There was no difference between the groups at baseline assessment (flexibility and relaxation group:
The improvement was even more significant in the 24-m walking test. The walking and NW walking groups improved by 4.3 s and 4.7 s, respectively, compared to 0.7 s in the flexibility and relaxation group (
Stride length increased with increasing walking speed in all groups on both days (
The Nordic walking group was most effective in improving stride length. The post hoc test revealed that there was a clear difference between the Nordic walking and the flexibility and relaxation group (
(a) Stride length increased significantly with increasing walking speed, and improved further on the second assessment (
Stride length variability was higher during slow walking indicating more instability. With increasing walking speed, stride length variability decreased in all groups. On the first day, the three groups did not differ in stride length variability, after completion of the training programmes stride length variability decreased in all groups (
The groups differed as well in the improvement of stride length variability with increasing walking speed on the second day. While the Nordic walking group improved further in stride length variability at a walking speed of 2.7 km/h and 3.0 km/h, the walking and flexibility and relaxation group did rather deteriorate at the higher walking velocities (Day × trial × group
Stride time decreased with increasing walking speed, there was no significant difference between the groups on the first assessment. After the training period stride time decreased further, shown in a linear trend of days (
The Nordic walking group was superior to the walking group and the flexibility and relaxation group, shown in a clear between-subject effect (
The double stance phase decreased with increasing walking speed in all groups on both assessments. Compared to the baseline test, the double stance phase was shorter on the second assessment in all groups (
All groups showed already a good performance level at baseline assessment with a mean maximal walking speed of 6.0 ± 1.1 km/h; the maximal walking speed did not differ significantly between the groups.
While the flexibility and relaxation group reached with 6.0 ± 0.4 km/h the same walking speed on the second assessment as on the first assessment, the walking and NW group improved further. The NW group managed on average 7.6 ± 0.6 km/h at the second assessment, the walking group 6.8 ± 0.4 km/h. The NW group was significantly faster than the flexibility and relaxation group, shown in the interaction between group and days (
Blood pressure and heart rate at resting conditions were similar on the first and second assessment. Blood pressure and heart rate changes between resting conditions and the respective maximal walking speed on the first and the second assessment did not significantly differ between the groups.
On both days 30% of each training group reached maximal exertion according to the formula maximal heart rate = 220-age. When patients were asked to rate their perceived exertion on the Borg scale, 50% of the patients classified their effort as very hard, 10% as very, very hard and the remaining patients as hard. There was no difference between the groups. According to the Borg scale, 60% of the patients reached maximal exertion.
To evaluate whether the training led to a better adaptation to exercise the course of the BP and HR response to exercise between 3 km/h and 5 km/h was assessed. This approach includes the BP and HR responses to exercise at a submaximal level. Patients who managed 5 km/h on both days were included in the analysis. However, only 72 of the patients (25 of the flexibility and relaxation group, 23 of the walking group, and 24 of the NW group) were included in this calculation, since 18 patients did not reach 5.0 km/h at the first or second assessment.
Comparison of systolic and diastolic blood pressure between 3 km/h and 5 km/h showed a better efficiency of the cardiovascular system to adapt to exercise in the Nordic walking and walking group. The submaximal walking speeds were less demanding for the patients after the training period. This is shown in a significant linear trend for days (systolic BP:
(a) The increase of the systolic blood pressure with increasing walking speed was significantly lower after completion of the training programme in the Nordic walking ((a)) and the walking group ((b)) but not in the flexibility and relaxation group; ((c)) T0 = first assessment, T1= second assessment, error bars indicate the standard deviation. (b) Walking group. T0 = first assessment, T1 = second assessment, error bars indicate the standard deviation. (c) Flexibility and relaxation group, there was no difference between the first and second assessment; T0 = first assessment, T1 = second assessment, error bars indicate the standard deviation.
The heart rate was lower in all groups on the second assessment shown in a significant linear trend for days (
(a) Heart rate increase at submaximal walking speeds was lower in the Nordic walking ((a)) and walking group ((b)) than in the flexibility and relaxation group ((c)) at the second assessment resulting in a significant group effect (
In order to get information on the adaptation to exercise of all patients a second analysis was performed. A different approach was chosen for this calculation. The blood pressure changes between resting conditions and the blood pressure at the walking speed, which corresponds to the maximal walking speed of the first day, were analysed on the second assessment and compared with the blood pressure changes between resting conditions and maximal walking speed on the first assessment. The mean systolic blood pressure change was significantly lower on the second assessment (
The heart rate change between resting conditions and the walking speed corresponding to the maximal walking speed of the baseline assessment was lower at the second assessment, indicating an adaptation to exercise. The Nordic walking group and the walking group improved more than the flexibility and relaxation group, which is shown by an interaction of groups and days (
Patients were asked to keep an activity log for one week prior to the training period and during the last week of the study. While there was no difference in general physical activity of the groups prior to the training, patients of the walking and Nordic walking groups spent more time doing heavy work, such as gardening, and spent less time sitting than the flexibility and relaxation group after six months training (Table
Time spent sitting per day and doing heavy work per week.
Time spent | Flexibility & relaxation group | Walking group | NW group | Significance (group effect) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Sitting per day baseline (h) | ||||
Sitting per day final (h) | ||||
Doing heavy work per week baseline (h) | ||||
Doing heavy work per week final (h) |
The patients were on average slightly overweight at the beginning of the training (Table
Six months after completion of the study, patients were asked whether they were still exercising. All patients of the NW group continued and had formed training groups. They walked with an instructor once a week. 60% of the participants of the walking group continued walking 2-3 times per week, 10% gave up exercising and 30% started practising NW. The flexibility and relaxation programme seemed to be less attractive. It was difficult to find a gym, and patients were more dependent on a physiotherapist to run the sessions. Only 50% of the patients continued the flexibility and relaxation programme.
In summary, the main results of the study were that all training programmes provided some benefit for the patients. Pain of the neck, hips, and iliosacral joint, health-related quality of life, and balance improved in all groups. In contrast maximal walking speed, stride length, double stance, exercise capacity at submaximal level, subscale 6 (cognition) of the PDQ 39 and the UPDRS Sum score and UPDRS-motor score improved only in the walking and NW group significantly. Patients, who completed a walking or Nordic walking training, had a better posture and postural stability, showed less freezing, and were faster in alternating movements. NW was superior to walking and the flexibility and relaxation programme in improving postural instability, gait pattern, stride length and stride length variability. The exercise programmes were not associated with an increased risk of falls or injuries.
Based on the results of the study, the first hypothesis that all training programmes improve walking speed, gait parameters, balance, cardiovascular parameters, Parkinson specific symptoms, pain, and HRQL can be partly corroborated only. The flexibility and relaxation programme did not improve significantly maximal walking speed on the treadmill, cardiovascular capacity, stride length and Parkinson’s specific disability.
Gait and/or mobility were the outcome measures in most studies. Neurological symptoms served rarely as outcome measures for exercise programmes, and only a few studies found significant benefit in direction of exercise intervention [
Schenkman and Butler [
In contrast to the findings of Schenkman et al. [
In agreement with other studies [
The second hypothesis that Nordic walking is generally superior to the flexibility and relaxation programme and walking could not be confirmed. In most of the tests, Nordic walking was only superior to the flexibility and relaxation programme but not superior to the walking group, especially in the exercise test. It was expected that Nordic walking is most effective in increasing cardiorespiratory capacity. However, there was no superiority of the NW group. Earlier studies purported an enhancement of cardiovascular metabolism and an increase in walking speed by NW. However, recent studies have shown that the physiological effects of NW depend largely on the technical skills of the individuals. Without being competent in using the correct NW technique patients cannot exercise with high intensity. The participants of the NW group had difficulties to employ the correct technique in the beginning of the training period, and it took a long time until they involved the upper body. Although, at the end of the training period nearly all patients showed at least good technical skills, at the assessment after 3-month training, only 50% of the patients showed good technical skills. Probably due to these technical difficulties, most of the patients of the NW group did not walk significantly faster with poles for most of the training period. Therefore, the metabolic and cardiovascular demands on the body might not have been much higher than in the walking group. Consequently, the effects of walking and NW walking might have been quite similar.
However, PD patients were able to learn the technique of NW. There is growing evidence that the capacity to learn remains in early stages of PD [
Cardio-respiratory capacity increases by adaptations of muscle fibres, better muscle recruitment, and improvement of cardio-respiratory parameters. PD patients have deficits in muscle recruitment and development of dynamic muscle strength. During the first weeks of training, the body learns to recruit the correct muscles in a proper sequence while inhibiting unnecessary muscle recruitment. These adaptations take several months to occur and depend on a specific training. Since walking was not practised in the flexibility and relaxation group, gait parameters and walking speed did not improve significantly. In addition, fitness training involves systematic progressions that apply the overload principle to purposeful short- and long-term goals [
We did not specifically assess the effect of the exercise programme on concomitant diseases. However, the capacity of the patients to respond to demands on the cardiovascular system with a lower blood pressure increase after completion of the training has to be regarded as a positive effect of the training.
It is always desired to have a carry-over effect of the exercise training into daily life. However, the carry-over effect in PD is often small. PD patients often use cognitive strategies during exercises. As long as the patients are cognitively intact and do not have marked postural instability, they are immediately able to walk faster and with long steps. During the training sessions, patients are focused on walking and their attention is directed to the desired movement patterns. Patients might compensate for the neurotransmitter imbalance through bypassing the defective basal ganglia and instead using the frontal cortex to regulate movement size and timing [
Another positive effect was the reduction of pain, especially of musculoskeletal pain. Pain is one of the most common nonmotor symptoms in PD and leads to reduction of physical activity, since patients fear an increase of pain by movements. Pain in PD is thought to have several origins; either neuropathic pain that is central in nature, increasing during off-phases, or musculoskeletal pain. The latter responds well to physical therapy and exercises. This was confirmed in the present study. About 36% of the subjects participating in the study suffered from osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is often associated with pain and leads to a decreased range of joint motion and to a reduction of physical activity which is especially detrimental to PD patients. The neurodegenerative disease already induces rigidity, a reduction of joint movement leads to slow movements. Pain can start a vicious circle and leads to a significant loss of muscle strength and mobility. There is now sufficient evidence that muscle weakness, immobility, and neurodegenerative diseases are risk factors for osteoarthritis [
Nordic walking was only in some aspects superior to walking but improved postural stability, stride length, stride length variability, and percentage of double stance phase more than the other training programmes. These gait parameters seem to be important for a steady gait, and have major effects on mobility. Reduced stride length variability and a shorter double stance phase are associated with a lower risk of falling [
NW was most attractive for the patients, and all patients continued the training, which might be a prerequisite to maintain an active life style.
Supportive was that 70% of the spouses took up NW and accompanied the patients after completion of the study. Since social aspects were very important for the PD patients, the participation of the spouses in NW might support further physical activity.
Physiotherapists should be encouraged to teach PD patients NW and to provide practise sessions with high intensity. Presumably the combination between motor learning, some flexibility exercises, and endurance training produces the best training effects. Three training lessons per week are necessary to learn the right technique and to improve cardiovascular fitness. A lower frequency of trainings sessions and lower intensity of the training in a previous study had been less effective. Exercise training should already be offered to patients in early stages of the disease to prevent a loss of muscle strength and a rapid decline of mobility. Nordic walking might also be suitable in advanced stages of PD, since the support of the poles reduces the risk of falls. However, in advanced stages, fluctuations of motor symptoms and autonomic disturbances, such as exercise-induced hypotension, have to be considered. In addition, at least some of the training sessions should be supervised, since patients do not notice their technical deficits.
The risk of injuries due to accidents during the training was low, but attention has to be drawn to a small risk of overuse injuries, especially of the shoulder, in NW. Therefore, an accompanying physiotherapy treatment is recommended, training should be supervised, and training frequency and intensity has to be gradually increased.
We included patients in mild-to-moderate stages of the disease and without a history of falls in the past. In another study (personal communication), we assessed the risk of falls in NW training in PD patients with frequent falls. Patients had been able to perform the training and did not sustain severe injuries. Patients participating in the current study did not suffer from severe concomitant diseases, which might have resulted in a positive selection of patients. Many patients of this age have significant concomitant diseases and might be less suitable for an aerobic exercise programme. Cognitive functions have not been formally assessed after completion of the training. Thus, the perception of the NW group, that they can better memorize and recall information, might be confounded by improved emotional well-being. Due to the lack of technical facilities, the exercise test did not include the measurement of V02 consumption. Hence, we cannot comment on an improvement of fitness by the training.
Peripheral and central parameters might contribute to effects of exercise training. Better muscle coordination and recruitment, improvement of strength flexibility and increase of range of movements and balance reflect the peripheral mechanisms of adaptation to exercise. Cardiovascular effects and reduction of risk factors might contribute as well. In recent years, there is growing evidence from animal and human studies, that physical exercise enhances brain plasticity [
In conclusion, the study has shown that all forms of exercises had some positive effects on symptoms and deficits caused by PD, but walking and Nordic walking, which involve aerobic endurance training, were superior to the flexibility and relaxation programme. Walking and Nordic walking reduced Parkinson-specific disability and pain, improved health-related quality of life, gait and led to a more active life style. However, PD patients needed more time to practise NW in order to obtain the necessary technical skills. Therefore, it might take longer for training effects to appear, since improvement of motor function is a prerequisite to participate in training sessions with higher intensity. Furthermore, patients showed adaptation to exercise. Participation in sports activities including aerobic training sessions has positive effects on daily activity, gait and PD-specific disability. Exercise therapy does not replace medication but is an important adjunct treatment. Prospective randomised long-term studies are needed to decide whether exercise therapy might also slow down the progression of Parkinson’s disease.