OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether body weight-supported treadmill training (BWSTT) is of long-term benefit for patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Inpatient rehabilitation unit for neurologic diseases in Japan. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-four patients (Hoehn and Yahr stages 2.5 or 3) who were not demented (Mini-Mental State Examination score, > 27). INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomized to receive either a 45-minute session of BWSTT (up to 20% of body weight supported) or conventional physical therapy (PT) for 3 days a week for 1 month. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Outcome measures were evaluated at baseline and at 1, 2, 3, and 6 months. Measures included the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), ambulation speed (s/10 m), and number of steps taken for a 10-m walk as a parameter for stride length. RESULTS: Four patients needed modification of medications in the follow-up period. Twenty patients (BWSTT, n = 11; PT, n = 9) without modified medications were analyzed for functional outcome. Age, duration of PD, gender, and doses of medications were comparable. There was no difference in the baseline UPDRS (BWSTT 33.3; PT 32.6), speed (BWSTT 10.8; PT 11.5), and steps (BWSTT 23.4; PT 22.8). The BWSTT group had significantly greater improvement than the PT group (Mann-Whitney U test, Bonferroni adjustment for multiple comparison) in ambulation speed at 1 month (BWSTT 8.5; PT 10.8; p < 0.005); and in the number of steps at 1 (BWSTT 20.0; PT 22.7; p < 0.005), 2 (BWSTT 19.5; PT 22.4; p < 0.005), 3 (BWSTT 20.1; PT 23.1; p < 0.005), and 4 months (BWSTT 21.0; PT 23.0; p = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS: BWSTT has a lasting effect specifically on short-step gait in PD.

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