Effects of Speed Dependent Treadmill Training on Dual Task Performance in Patients With Parkinson’s Disease

Abstract BACKGROUND: Parkinson’s disease is progressive disorder, which cause rigidity, balance impairment and tremors. In Parkinson disease patients, the dual task decreases the speed of walking and there is high risk of fall. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of speed dependent treadmill training on dual task performance in patients with Parkinson’s disease. METHODOLOGY: Multicenter randomized clinical trial conducted from January to July 2023 among 24 participants with mild to moderate Parkinson’s disease in 2 outpatient hospitals in Pakistan. The subjects were randomly allocated into two groups. Experimental group received 5weeks treatment on moderate speed for 4 min×4 times for 3 sessions per week. While control group received 5weeks treatment on slow speed for 4 min×4 times for 3 sessions per week. Dual task testing, BBS, and the UPDRS-III were administered at baseline and after the five-week period. Data analyzed on SPSS 25. RESULTS: Experimental group had 91.7% male and 8.3% female, while control group had 83.3% male and 16.7% female. The mean and standard deviation of BBS, UPDRS-III and dual-tasking test was decreased in experimental group as compared to control group. Significant difference was found for BBG (p≤0.005), dual-testing test (p≤0.000) and walking speed while dual-tasking (p≤.039) among both groups. CONCLUSION: Speed dependent treadmill training improves the dual task performance in Parkinson patient. Slow speed treatment showed more promising result as compared to the moderate treatment in BBS and dual tasking. Additionally, the moderate speed group outperformed the slow speed group in UPDRS-III.