Effects of Nordic Walking Exercise on Gait, Motor/Non-motor Symptoms, and Exercise Biomarkers in Parkinson's Disease

The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of Nordic pole walking exercise on walking function, movement and non-movement Parkinson-related symptoms, and certain exercise-related chemical indicators (bio-markers) in people with Parkinson's disease. This study will examine both the immediate and long-term effects of Nordic walking (NW) exercise on walking function, PD symptoms and exercise bio-markers after a supervised and individually progressed 6-week NW exercise training period and after a 3-month independent NW exercise phase. NW, as a task- specific exercise with higher energy demands than regular walking, has good practicality for independent walking exercise once the training program is completed. Therefore, this study will also examine independent NW exercise engagement after a supervised training program to assess feasibility and sustainability of this mode of task-specific aerobic exercise.