Background: Thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder which despite treatment its clinical manifestations affect the patients' quality of life. Therefore, psychological support and rehabilitation programs are needed to improve the quality of life in such patients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of an 8-week walking program on quality of life in patients with thalassemia major.

Materials and Methods: In this semi-experimental study, 61 patients with thalassemia major (18 years and older) were randomly divided into the experimental and control groups. Patients in the experimental group performed an 8-week walking program. Quality of life was assessed using the SF36 questionnaire before and after the intervention in both groups.

Results: Results showed significant improvements in quality of life in the experimental group compared with the control group after an 8-week regular walking program (P<0.05).

Conclusion: An 8-week walking program has a positive effect on the quality of life in thalassemia major patients and a walking program designed for such patients is recommended to enhance their quality of life.

Background: Parkinson disease is a CNS disease of senile characterized with gradual and progressive muscular rigidity, tremor and the loss of locomotor skills. The aim of the present study was to review the exercise/physical interventions relevant to the treatment of idiopathic Parkinson disease.

Materials and Methods: This review was done using a systematic search in Sportdi, PubMed, Medline, and Google Scholar cites on papers published during 1995-2013 in the field of training, exercise/movement therapy on Parkinson. Moreover, the review was done in four categories: postural instability, balance performance, quality of life, walking and risk of falling.

Results: Despite the diversity in training program, the majority of studies reported significant benefits in addition to the conventional medical treatments on the movement performance in Parkinson's disease.

Conclusion: Given the effectiveness of exercise in the improvement of different aspects of movement performance among the Parkinson patients, in future the clinicians are required to take special consideration on applying movement therapy along with medical treatments for specific measurements on the biomechanical aspects of the disease.

Background: Currently, due to the high prevalence of overweight, obesity and modernization of life, walking on a treadmill is welcomed instead of walking on the ground. The aim of the study was to compare the effects of treadmill and ground walking, on maximal oxygen uptake (VO_2max), body mass index (BMI) and body fat percentage among inactive overweight women.

Materials and Methods: In this semi-experimental study, 30 healthy, inactive, and overweight women volunteered to take part in this study. After performing a pre-test, the participants were randomly allocated into three equal groups (n=10): walking on a treadmill, walking on the ground, and control. The walking training program was performed three sessions per week for eight weeks with 60% to 85% of heart rate reserve. Before and after eight weeks, the VO_2max was assessed by the Queen’s step test, BMI by dividing weight (kg) by the square of height and the body fat percentage was determined by measuring subcutaneous fat in three points with Skinfold calipers.

Results: The results showed a significant decrease in BMI in the two groups of walking on the treadmill and ground. Moreover, there was a significant difference in VO_2max among the three groups. However, there was no significant difference in BMI and body fat percentage among the three groups.

Conclusion: Since walking on the ground can improve VO_2max, it can be more helpful to prevent obesity than walking on a treadmill.