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Treadmill gait training improves baroreflex sensitivity in Parkinson’s disease

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Abstract

Background

Partial weight supported treadmill gait training (PWSTT) is widely used in rehabilitation of gait in patient with Parkinson’s Diseases (PD). However, its effect on blood pressure variability (BPV) and baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) in PD has not been studied.

Aim

To evaluate the effect of conventional and treadmill gait training on BPV components and BRS.

Methods

Sixty patients with idiopathic PD were randomized into three groups. Twenty patients in control group were on only stable medication, 20 patients in conventional gait training (CGT) group (Stable medication with CGT) and 20 patients in PWSTT group (Stable medication with 20 % PWSTT). The CGT and PWSTT sessions were given for 30 min per day, 4 days per week, for 4 weeks (16 sessions). Groups were evaluated in their best ‘ON’ states. The beat-to-beat finger blood pressure (BP) was recorded for 10 min using a Finometer instrument (Finapres Medical Systems, The Netherlands). BPV and BRS results were derived from artifact-free 5-min segments using Nevrocard software.

Results

BRS showed a significant group with time interaction (F = 6.930; p = 0.003). Post-hoc analysis revealed that PWSTT group showed significant improvement in BRS (p < 0.001) after 4 weeks of training. No significant differences found in BPV parameters; systolic BP, diastolic BP, co-variance of systolic BP and low frequency component of systolic BP.

Conclusions

Four weeks of PWSTT significantly improves BRS in patients with PD. It can be considered as a non-invasive method of influencing BRS for prevention of orthostatic BP fall in patients with PD.

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Conflict of interest

On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurophysiology, Laboratory for Autonomic Functions, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Hosur Road, Bangalore, 560029, India

    Mohan Ganesan & Talakad N. Sathyaprabha

  2. Department of Physical Therapy, College of Applied Health Sciences, University of Illinois, Chicago, 60612, USA

    Mohan Ganesan

  3. Department of Neurology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, 560029, India

    Pramod Kumar Pal

  4. Department of Neurological Rehabilitation, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, 560029, India

    Anupam Gupta

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  1. Mohan Ganesan
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  2. Pramod Kumar Pal
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  3. Anupam Gupta
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  4. Talakad N. Sathyaprabha
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Correspondence to Talakad N. Sathyaprabha.

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Ganesan, M., Pal, P.K., Gupta, A. et al. Treadmill gait training improves baroreflex sensitivity in Parkinson’s disease. Clin Auton Res 24, 111–118 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10286-014-0236-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10286-014-0236-z

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