Dynamic visual cueing in combination with treadmill training for gait rehabilitation in Parkinson disease

Abstract

Various cueing techniques as well as treadmill training have been shown to be effective in the gait rehabilitation of patients with Parkinson disease. We present a novel setup combining both dynamic visual cueing and body weight-supported treadmill training. A nonambulatory patient with Parkinson disease received six training sessions. Continuous improvement of gait parameters was observed throughout the course of training. When comparing cued and noncued conditions in individual training sessions, it was found that step length was larger and that gait symmetry was enhanced in the cued condition. At the end of the training period, the patient was capable of walking short distances with a walking frame. In conclusion, dynamic visual cueing in combination with body weight-supported treadmill training seems to be a promising treatment strategy for patients with Parkinson disease, even in the case of severe impairment.