on the MEDLINE PLUS website

Research has found improvement in posture, walking, muscle stiffness, mood, attention and overall quality of life

Parkinson's patients who routinely go for sport walks may improve their physical and mental condition.

"The benefits of physical activity in healthy people are greater in Parkinson's patients, due to its effect on the symptoms of the disease. People with Parkinson's disease will enjoy all the benefits of physical activity of a healthy person and in addition it will have an effect on the symptoms of the disease," says Dr. Daniel Korkos, professor of physical therapy and human mobility at Norwestern University in Chicago. Korkus was not involved in the present study.

Parkinson's disease is a disease of the movement system that prevents its patients from controlling movement muscles.

The new study, the results of which were published in the online version of the monthly NEUROLOGY on July 2, included 60 Parkinson's patients aged 50-80. All as an early stage of the disease. They were independent in daily functioning, did not suffer from dementia or other serious health problems and could walk without a walking stick or a walker while under the influence of their medication.

The subjects were asked to walk 3 times a week while their heart rate was monitored to make sure they were walking briskly. They started in 15 minutes and finished in 45 minutes.

In the study, moderate increased activity was defined as at least 70% of the maximum heart rate, the heart rate for the subject's age, in most of the subjects this was a heart rate in the range of 104-111 beats per minute.

"This means that the subjects sweated but did not reach exhaustion," clarifies the head of the research team, Dr. Argon Oak, a neurologist from the University Hospital Clinics of the University of Iowa and the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Iowa City.

The researchers tested the physical and mental functioning of the participants before and 6 months after the start of the walk. In the second test, the subjects showed a significant improvement in their aerobic fitness. They walked faster and their balance was better too. They also experienced less muscle stiffness compared to their previous condition. So according to the researchers.

In addition, several brain indices improved. The subjects showed better activity in the test that examined the focus of their attention. Regarding their mood, the participants reported less weakness and less depression and a more optimistic outlook on life.

Since the study did not have a negative control group - that is, a group of subjects who did not walk - it is difficult to determine whether the observed improvement was only due to walking. Sometimes people only get better due to better treatment from the lax staff. That's why Dr. Ock said that the research should be repeated under randomized and controlled conditions, and for that he applied for a research grant.

But this study is not the first to find that exercise helps Parkinson's patients. Korkus led a study that showed that exercise with weights showed similar results to this study.

"This is an extremely important study. And that's because walking is an easy exercise to do and the study showed interesting results," Korkos says.

The researchers agreed that walking is something people can do to improve their health.

Dr. Ock adds and says: "Walking should be safe, be appropriate and in accordance with personal ability, and should be given by a professional such as a doctor"

מקור:
SOURCES: Ergun Uc, MD, neurologist, The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics and The Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Iowa City; Daniel Corcos, MD, professor, physical therapy and human movement sciences, Northwestern University, Chicago; July 29, 2014, Neurology