Effects of an Independent Walking Program With Walking Poles in People With Parkinson Disease
East Tennessee State University
Summary
Study Purpose: The purpose of the study is to compare changes in walking in people with Parkinson disease after an 8-week independent walking program with or without using walking poles. Major parts of the Study: Before the walking program: Measurements will be taken of you while you are walking. You will be given tests and questionnaires about your movement and thinking. You will be trained on how to use walking poles. Independent walking program: You will be asked to walk at least 3 times each week for 8 weeks and keep a log of your walking. If you are in the walking pole group, you will walk with the poles. After the walking program: Your walking, movement, and thinking measurements will be collected as before the walking program. Follow-up: The same measures of walking, movement, and thinking will be taken 3-months after ending the walking program.
Description
Enrolled participants will complete the following Initial assessment * Participant demographics will be collected and include age, weight, height, foot length, gender, years since diagnosis, daily Parkinson medication, deep brain stimulation status, and the following questions: "How many times have you fallen in the past 3 and 6 months?", "Are you comfortable using walking/hiking poles?" and "How many days per week do you participate in intentional exercise?" * The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) version 8.1 will be administered. If participant scores \>18 (the cutoff score for mild cogn…
Eligibility
- Age range
- Not specified
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * English-speaking, diagnosis of Parkinson disease, ability to walk safely and independently with or without a cane, and medically cleared to participate in an independent walking program. Participants must be physically present in the USA at the time of assessment. Exclusion Criteria: * diagnosis of any neurological disease other than PD (including but not limited to stroke, dementia, and multiple sclerosis; mild cognitive impairment is not excluded), regular (\>30%) use of walking poles during walking for exercise for the prior 6 months, weight of more than 320 pounds…
Interventions
- BehavioralIndependent walking program using walking poles
Participants will independently walk at least 3 times a week for 8 weeks using walking poles
- BehavioralIndependent walking program without walking poles
Participants will independently walk at least 3 times a week for 8 weeks without walking poles
Location
- East Tennessee State UniversityJohnson City, Tennessee