The Parkinson disease represents the second neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer’s disease in France. 150,000 people are affected by this pathology that we do not yet know how to cure. Sick people thus develop tremors, stiffness and see their movements slow down. Gait disturbances are also common during the progression of Parkinson’s disease.
However, a new study suggests that walking 45 minutes every other day when you have Parkinson’s disease could slow the progression of the disease. Even a short distance, walking for 45 minutes improves motor functions, reduces fatigue and improves mood.
A simple and accessible way to improve symptoms
Study author Dr Ergun Uc, from the University of Iowa (USA), said: “The results of our study suggest that walking may provide a safe and easily accessible way to improve symptoms of Parkinson’s disease and quality of life in people with mild to moderate disease”.
For this study, the doctor included 60 people who took part in 45-minute walking sessions of moderate intensity (a heart monitor was used to check the intensity), three times a week for 6 months. The walking speed was about 4.5 km/hour.
Walking also improves attention spans
At the same time, the study participants took tests measuring their motor functions, memory, reasoning ability as well as their mood and state of fatigue.
The study found that these regular walks improved motor function by 15%, attention by 14% and reduced fatigue by 11%.
Dr Uc added: “People with mild to moderate Parkinson’s do not have dementia and are able to walk independently without a cane or walker, so they can safely follow exercise advice. recommended for healthy adults, which includes 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity.