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.
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.
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 or height more than 6'4", unable to participate in walking for more than 7 consecutive days during the study period (ie, traveling, scheduled surgery), anticipated change in Parkinson-specific medication (including additions, removals, or changes in dosage) during the intervention period, a change in deep brain stimulation (DBS) parameters during the intervention.
Parallel
Independent walking program using walking poles
BehavioralParticipants will independently walk at least 3 times a week for 8 weeks using walking poles
Independent walking program without walking poles
BehavioralParticipants will independently walk at least 3 times a week for 8 weeks without walking poles
Six Minute Walk Test
Measurement of distance walked in 6 minutes, a reflection of functional capacity.
Gait Characteristic - gait speed
Measure with a timed 10-meter walk test.
Backward Walk Test
Timed 5-meter backward walking to gather backward gait speed.
Timed Up and Go
The Timed Up and Go (TUG) is a standardized measure of functional mobility, balance, and fall risk in adults. It captures how efficiently a person can transition between sitting, standing, walking, turning, and sitting again.
Cognitive Timed Up and Go
The Cognitive Timed Up and Go (TUG) is a standardized measure of functional mobility, balance, and fall risk in adults. It captures how efficiently a person can transition between sitting, standing, walking, turning, and sitting again while performing a cognitive task of counting backward by 3.
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