Walk Off Parkinson’s

Parkinson’s Disease is characterized by a loss of dopaminergic neurons, which leads to tremors and difficulty with movement and walking.  Ergun Y. Uc, from the University of FIowa (Iowa, USA), and colleagues studied 60 men and women with Parkinson’s Disease, who took part in sessions of walking at moderate intensity three times a week for 45 minutes per session for six months. The average walking speed was about 2.9 miles per hour, and participants were exercising at 47% of their heart rate reserve.  The study found that brisk walking improved motor function and mood by 15%, attention/response control scores by 1%4%, reduced tiredness by 11%, and increased aerobic fitness and gait speed by 7%. On the test of motor function, participants improved by an average of 2.8 points, which is considered a clinically important difference.  The study authors submit that” “This study provides … evidence that in patients with [Parkinson’s Disease], an aerobic exercise program improves aerobic fitness, motor function, fatigue, mood, and cognition.”