The effects of walking training with poles on walking ability: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Objective The purpose of this study was to consolidate the level of evidence for the effects of walking training with poles (pole walking; PW) on walking ability using a systematic review and meta-analysis. Type Systematic review and meta-analysis. Literature Survey Databases incl PubMed, Cochrane Library, Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature databases, and Igaku Chuo Zasshi were searched on June 20, 2021. Methodology Data from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the effects of PW with walking without poles and/or other exercise interventions in disease-specific and aging populations were collected. Data on walking speed, functional mobility, and walking endurance were collected for the meta-analyses. Standardized mean differences (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated from postintervention means and standard deviations. The PEDro scale was used for assessing the risk of bias, and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation system was used to determine the quality of evidence. Synthesis This study included 13 RCTs comprising 750 participants; of these, six RCTs were included in the meta-analysis. The results showed that moderate-quality evidence supports the positive effects of PW on walking speed in patients with Parkinson disease (walking speed: SMD = 0.42, 95% CI = 0.04-0.80). In contrast, PW did not significantly improve functional mobility in patients with Parkinson disease and walking speed in older adults. Conclusions There was moderate-quality evidence that PW improved walking speed in patients with Parkinson disease.