Analysis of the efficacy of lower extremity rehabilitation training on motor function and gait in patients with Parkinson's disease

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effects of lower extremity rehabilitation training on motor function and gait in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Methods A total of 57 patients with primary PD who were admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from January 2019 to December 2020 were included, and randomized to receive conventional rehabilitation therapy (conventional rehabilitation group, n = 28) and lower extremity rehabilitation training based on conventional rehabilitation therapy (lower extremity rehabilitation group, n = 29), respectively. Before and after training, Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Ⅲ (UPDRS Ⅲ) was used to assess motor function, and IDEEA wearable gait analysis system was used to assess gait (including step length, walk velocity and stride frequency). Results Compared with the pre⁃training period, patients in 2 groups showed a decrease in UPDRSⅢscore (F = 108.572, P = 0.000), an increase in step length (F = 66.141, P = 0.000), walk velocity (F = 310.127, P = 0.000) and stride frequency (F = 377.174, P = 0.000) after 4 weeks of training. Compared with the conventional rehabilitation group, patients in the lower extremity rehabilitation group had a decrease in UPDRSⅢscore (F = 7.769, P = 0.034), an increased in step length (F = 6.342, P = 0.044), walk velocity (F = 4.815, P = 0.049) and stride frequency (F = 8.519, P = 0.018) after training. Conclusions Lower extremity rehabilitation training can effectively improve motor function and gait in patients with PD, and is worthy of clinical promotion and application.

Keywords

• parkinson disease
• lower extremity
• exercise therapy
• motor disorders
• gait apraxia