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. 2020 Nov 10;5(4):82.
doi: 10.3390/jfmk5040082.

Nordic Walking and Free Walking Improve the Quality of Life, Cognitive Function, and Depressive Symptoms in Individuals with Parkinson's Disease: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Elren Passos-Monteiro  1   2   3 , Felipe B Schuch  1   4 , Leandro T Franzoni  5 , Alberito R Carvalho  1   6 , Natalia A Gomeñuka  1   7 , Marindia Becker  1 , Carlos R M Rieder  8 , Alexandro Andrade  9 , Flávia G Martinez  1 , Aline S Pagnussat  2   10 , Leonardo A Peyré-Tartaruga  1   11
Affiliations

Nordic Walking and Free Walking Improve the Quality of Life, Cognitive Function, and Depressive Symptoms in Individuals with Parkinson's Disease: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Elren Passos-Monteiro et al. J Funct Morphol Kinesiol. .

Abstract

Nordic walking's (NW) degree of effectiveness regarding health-related parameters in people with Parkinson's Disease (PD) is a subject of debate. While NW seems to improve functionality, a clear non-motor benefit has not been demonstrated. The aim of this randomized controlled trial was to compare the effects of 9-week NW and free walking (FW) training programs on quality of life, cognitive function, and depressive symptoms in individuals with PD. Thirty-three people with PD, (Hoehn and Yahr 1-4) were randomized into two groups: NW (n = 16) and FW (n = 17). We analyzed quality of life, cognitive function, depressive symptoms, and motor symptoms. Significant improvements were found in the overall, physical, psychological, social participation, and intimacy domains of quality of life, as well as in cognitive function and depressive symptoms for both groups. Only the NW group showed improvement in the autonomy domain. Individuals with PD had a similar enhancement of non-motor symptoms after walking training, with or without poles. However, the NW group showed a more significant improvement in the autonomy domain, strengthening the applied and clinical potential of NW in people with PD. Future studies are needed to determine the efficacy of walking training without poles in subjects with PD.

Keywords: Parkinsonian disorders; cognitive; depression; exercise therapy; neurodegenerative diseases; quality of life.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Timeline of the study. NW: Nordic walking, FW: Free walking, MoCA: Montreal cognitive assessment, UPDRS III: Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale—Part Motor, H&Y: Hoenh and Yahr scale, SSWS: Self-selected walking speed, RPE: Rating of perceived exertion, HR: Heart rate.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Four-support system of Nordic walking: Brazil Locomotion Method.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Flowchart of selection process and inclusion of volunteers. Note: Parkinson Disease (PD); Deep Brain Stimulation; Randomized clinical trial (RCT).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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