The purpose of this review was to assess the effectiveness of treadmill training in improving the gait function of patients with Parkinson’s disease and the acceptability and safety of this type of therapy. Eight trials (203 participants) were included in this review. Treadmill training improved gait speed, stride length, walking distance, but cadence did not improve at the end of study. Treadmill training did not increase the risk of patients dropping out. Adverse events were not reported.
Patients with Parkinson’s disease who receive treadmill training are more likely to improve their impaired gait hypokinesia. However, the results must be interpreted with caution because there were variations between the trials in patient characteristics, the duration and amount of training, and types of treatment. Additionally, it is not known how long these improvements may last.