Introduction: Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disease that develops slowly and is associated with motor and non-motor symptoms. These may appear several years before diagnosis. The main motor symptoms are resting tremor, bradykinesia, rigidity and postural instability. Treatment is symptomatic, with medicines that can cause many side effects. Nordic walking was developed in Finland in the late 1980s as an alternative summer activity to nordic skiing. It is a simple, safe and effective method to increase physical activity in older adults. Purpose: The aim of the thesis was to review the scientific literature to determine the effects of nordic walking in patients with Parkinson's disease. Methods: In the diploma work we used a descriptive method which included scientific research. Electronic literature search was conducted in databases such as PubMed, Cochrane Library and PEDro, for the period from January 2013 to January 2023, using a combination of keywords: »Nordic walking« AND »Parkinson's disease« AND »physical activity« AND »rehabilitation«. Results: Based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, we selected 6 studies in which a total of 189 subjects participated, but 181 successfully completed the study. Training programs lasted from 4 to 12 weeks, two to five times per week, with training sessions lasting from 45 to 75 minutes. All included studies reported positive effects of Nordic walking on patients with Parkinson's disease, finding statistically significant improvements in balance and walking ability. A statistically significant improvement in non-motor symptoms was proven in three studies, while one study reported a reduction in freezing of gait. Discussion and conclusion: Nordic walking can be a suitable form of exercise for patients with Parkinson's disease, as it improves upper-lower limb coordination and thus balance in complex daily activities. Both individual and group exercise of Nordic walking bring effective results, although the group activitiy represents an additional motivational factor. In order to achieve comprehensive effects it would be advisable to combine Nordic walking with other forms of physical activity, which can further help to improve motor skills and the overall health of patients with Parkinson's disease.
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