Nordic Walking improves trunk stability and gait spatial-temporal characteristics in people with Parkinson disease

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to assess the effect of walking with Nordic Walking (NW) poles on postural stability and gait spatial-temporal characteristics in individuals with PD and to determine the cognitive load associated operating the poles. METHODS: Twelve individuals with PD (age: 61.6 +/- 11.7) were asked to perform four 90 s walking trials; with/without poles and with/without verbal fluency task (category fluency) after a 6-week independent NW training. We assessed gait spatial-temporal characteristics, and trunk postural stability using the APDM accelerometry system. RESULTS: Trunk frontal range of motion and peak velocity were smaller in NW compared to normal walking with and without the cognitive task (p < 0.01). Cadence, gait speed and stride length decreased in both pole conditions when performed with the cognitive task (p < 0.05). However stride length was longer with poles compared to without poles. CONCLUSIONS: The reduced range of motion and velocity of the trunk in the frontal plane of motion suggest that NW can improve postural stability independently of the addition of a cognitive task. Compared to normal walking, spatial-temporal characteristics did not further decline when the cognitive task was combined to NW. This suggests that NW is a suitable practice for gait rehabilitation protocols in PD.