Brisk Walking Helps Improve Motor Function, Mood in Parkinson's Disease Patients

Brisk walking might help improve motor function and cognitive abilities in people suffering from mild to moderate Parkinson's disease, a new study finds.

The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Iowa, found that exercise helps Parkinson's disease patients cope with mood problems and even tiredness.

Parkinson's disease is a type of motor system disorder. Symptoms of PD include trembling hands, legs and jaws. People suffering from PD have impaired balance and co-ordination. Over time, PD patients lose the ability to walk and perform simple activities, leading to a lower quality of life.

The new study suggests that being physically active at the early stages of Parkinson's disease might help stave-off some of the conditions associated with the disease.

"The results of our study suggest that walking may provide a safe and easily accessible way of improving the symptoms of Parkinson's disease and improve quality of life," said Ergun Y. Uc, MD, at the University of Iowa in Iowa City and lead author of the study, according to a news release.

The study was based on data from 60 people who participated in moderate activity sessions while wearing heart rate monitor. The walking exercises were done three times a week for 45 minutes per session. The study was conducted over a period of six months.

Participants walked with a speed of 2.9 miles per hour and were exercising at 47 percent of their heart rate reserve, which meets the requirement of moderate level of aerobic exercise.

Participants also underwent a series of tests that detected their motor function, aerobic fitness, memory, tiredness thinking abilities and mood.

On the test of motor function, participants improved by around 2.8 points on an average, which is considered a clinically important difference. Walking also helped improve aerobic fitness by seven percent and mood by 15 percent. Exercise reduced tiredness by 11 percent.

"People with mild-moderate Parkinson's who do not have dementia and are able to walk independently without a cane or walker can safely follow the recommended exercise guidelines for healthy adults, which includes 150 minutes per week of moderate intensity aerobic activity, and experience benefits," said Uc.

This was a small study. Further research with a large number of participants and control group will help determine the effect of exercise on PD, researchers said.

Department of Veterans Affairs, National Center for Research Resources and others supported the study. It is published in the journal Neurology.