OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of conventional gait training (CGT) and PWSTT on gait and clinical manifestation. DESIGN: Prospective experimental research design. SETTING: National level- University and Tertiary Hospital for Mental Health and Neurosciences. PARTICIPANTS: Sixty patients with idiopathic PD, with mean age of 58.15 +/- 8.7 years, on stable dosage of dopaminomimetic drugs were randomly assigned into three groups (20 in each group) namely: (a) non-exercising PD group (NEPD), (b) conventional gait training (CGT) group (c) partial weight supported treadmill gait training (PWSTT) group. INTERVENTIONS: The interventions included in the study were CGT and PWSTT. The sessions of CGT and PWSTT groups were given in patient's self-reported best 'ON' status after the regular medications. The interventions were given for 30 minutes per day, 4 days per week, for 4 weeks (16 sessions). OUTCOME MEASURES: Clinical severity was measured by the Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) and its sub-scores. The gait was measured by 2 min treadmill walking and 10-meter walk test. Outcome measures were evaluated in their best 'ON' status at baseline, at 2nd and 4th weeks. RESULTS: Four weeks of CGT and PWSTT gait training showed significant improvements of UPDRS, its sub-scores and on multiple gait performance measures. Moreover, the effects of PWSTT were significantly better than CGT on most measures. CONCLUSION: Partial weight supported treadmill gait training is a promising intervention tool to improve the clinical and gait outcome measures in patients with PD.

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