Parkinson’s Exercise Study

This video discusses the findings of a study looking at how different types of exercise impact the walking ability, and thus mobility and independence, of people with Parkinson’s disease.

Walking problems are the major cause of disability in Parkinson’s patients. This study, conducted by researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and the Baltimore VA Medical Center, tested Parkinson’s patients who did one of three types of exercise — walking on a treadmill for 50 minutes at a comfortable pace, high-intensity treadmill training, and muscle strengthening and stretching exercises — three days a week for three months.

Principal investigator Lisa Shulman, M.D., said the findings showed that 50 minutes of low-intensity treadmill training reduces disability and improves mobility and functioning of people with Parkinson’s disease more than high-intensity treadmill training. She added that this research shows that combining low-intensity walking with stretching and resistance training may be the best option for people with Parkinson’s disease.

This video discusses the findings of a study looking at how different types of exercise impact the walking ability, and thus mobility and independence, of people with Parkinson’s disease.

Walking problems are the major cause of disability in Parkinson’s patients. This study, conducted by researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and the Baltimore VA Medical Center, tested Parkinson’s patients who did one of three types of exercise — walking on a treadmill for 50 minutes at a comfortable pace, high-intensity treadmill training, and muscle strengthening and stretching exercises — three days a week for three months.