Effects of Nordic Walking on Gait Symmetry in Mild Parkinson’s Disease
, Valéria F. Martins 1, Elren Passos-Monteiro 1,2, Aline N. Haas 1 and Leonardo A. Peyré-Tartaruga 1,*Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
The proposed paper deals with the quantification of gait asymmetry in PD patients during treadmill walking. The results are interesting and could have reader value, however some minor issues should be carefully addressed.
METHODS
line 63: "quasi-experimental study" appears as a strange and non scientific term. Please, define better what you mean, avoiding the use of non scientific terms.
lines 79-83: the number of tested patients was 14?
line 90: the six-minute walking test was performed on a treadmill? Please, clarify.
line 149: please, briefly explain the GEE method used for assessing gait asymmetries.
FIGURES
I don't understand the need for Fig. 2, it gives the same information reported in Table 2.
RESULTS
As results only the knee and hip angles on the sagittal plane are reported. However, in methods section authors stated that the 3-D kinematics of lower and upper body was acquired. I would suggest to report the results relative also to the other joints, particularly the ankle, and also for the other two planes.
DISCUSSION
The fact that gait asymmetries have been quantified on treadmill walking and not free, ground walking should be highlighted.
Author Response
Please, find enclosed the response letter.
Author Response File: 
Author Response.docx
Reviewer 2 Report
General comments
This manuscript aims at describing the contralateral gait asymmetries and to investigate the effects of Nordic walking on these asymmetries in individuals with Parkinson's disease. One relevant reference is missing. Authors manage to fulfill sufficiently their aim. Research contents are fine.
One relevant reference (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24086316) is missing. Grammar and punctuation are minor issues.
Specific comment
Following relevant reference missing: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24086316
Minor comments
(line 17 and Table 1) One decimal for age and disease duration is enough;
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Author Response
Please find enclosed the response letter.
Author Response File: Author Response.docx
Round 2
Reviewer 1 Report
The authors have addressed all my previous comments. I have no further observations about the study.
