improving trunk flexibility, along with strengthening of the core muscles and lower extremities has been associated with increased balance and an improvement in gait pattern. aerobic exercises such as tandem bicycling and water aerobics are also crucial in improving strength and overall balance. due to pd's progressive nature it is important to sustain an exercise routine to maintain its benefits. strategies such as using a vertical walking pole can also help to improve upright postural alignment. the therapist may also use tiles or footprints on the ground to improve foot placement and widen the patient's base of support. creative visualization of walking with a more normalized gait pattern, and mentally rehearsing the desired movement has also shown to be effective. the patient should also be challenged by walking on a variety of surfaces such as tile, carpet, grass, or foamed surfaces will also benefit the individual's progress towards normalizing their gait pattern. comparison with other gait disorders subcortical arteriosclerotic encephalopathy (sae), also called lower-body parkinsonism, and cerebellar ataxia are two other gait disorders whose symptoms seem to closely resemble that of parkinson's. however, through regression analysis studies have revealed that in parkinson's, increasing the velocity of walking changes the stride length linearly (which resembles that of controls). however, in sae and cerebellar ataxia stride length had a disproportionate contribution to increasing velocity, indicating that sae and cerebellar ataxia have common underlying mechanisms different from those of parkinson's. socio-economic impact mobility issues associated with falls and freezing of gait have a devastating impact in the lives of pd patients. fear of falling in itself can have an incapacitating effect in pd patients and can result in social seclusion leaving patients largely isolated leading to depression. immobility can also lead to osteoporosis which in-turn facilitates future fracture development. this then becomes a vicious circle with falls leading to immobility and immobility facilitating future falls. hip fractures from falls are the most common form of fracture among pd patients. fractures increase treatment costs associated with health care expenditures in pd. also, when gait is affected it often heralds the onset of lewy body dementia.