Frontiers in Rehabilitation Sciences (Mar 2022)

Dual-Task Treadmill Training for the Prevention of Falls in Parkinson's Disease: Rationale and Study Design

  • Veit Mylius,
  • Veit Mylius,
  • Veit Mylius,
  • Laura Maes,
  • Katrin Negele,
  • Christine Schmid,
  • Ramona Sylvester,
  • Caroline Sharon Brook,
  • Florian Brugger,
  • Santiago Perez-Lloret,
  • Santiago Perez-Lloret,
  • Santiago Perez-Lloret,
  • Jens Bansi,
  • Jens Bansi,
  • Kamiar Aminian,
  • Anisoara Paraschiv-Ionescu,
  • Roman Gonzenbach,
  • Peter Brugger,
  • Peter Brugger

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fresc.2021.774658
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 2

Abstract

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Various factors, such as fear of falling, postural instability, and altered executive function, contribute to the high risk of falling in Parkinson's disease (PD). Dual-task training is an established method to reduce this risk. Motor-perceptual task combinations typically require a patient to walk while simultaneously engaging in a perceptual task. Motor-executive dual-tasking (DT) combines locomotion with executive function tasks. One augmented reality treadmill training (AR-TT) study revealed promising results of a perceptual dual-task training with a markedly reduced frequency of falls especially in patients with PD. We here propose to compare the effects of two types of concurrent tasks, perceptual and executive, on high-intensity TT). Patients will be trained with TT alone, in combination with an augmented reality perceptual DT (AR-TT) or with an executive DT (Random Number Generation; RNG-TT). The results are expected to inform research on therapeutic strategies for the training of balance in PD.

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