Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2014 Jan;20(1):106-11.
doi: 10.1016/j.parkreldis.2013.10.003. Epub 2013 Oct 15.

Effects of a formal exercise program on Parkinson's disease: a pilot study using a delayed start design

A Park  1 , D Zid  2 , J Russell  2 , A Malone  3 , A Rendon  3 , A Wehr  4 , X Li  4
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Effects of a formal exercise program on Parkinson's disease: a pilot study using a delayed start design

A Park et al. Parkinsonism Relat Disord. 2014 Jan.

Abstract

Introduction: Parkinson's Disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease. Increasing evidence shows that physical exercise is beneficial for motor and non-motor symptoms of PD, and animal models suggest that it may help slow progression of disease.

Methods: Using a randomized delayed-start design, 31 patients were randomized to an early start group (ESG) or a delayed start group (DSG) exercise program. The ESG underwent a rigorous formal group exercise program for 1 h, three days/week, for 48 weeks (November 2011-October 2012). The DSG participated in this identical exercise program from weeks 24-48. Outcome measures included the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), Walking Test (get-up-and-go), Tinetti Mobility Test, PDQ-39 Questionnaire, and the Beck Depression Inventory.

Results: There was minimal attrition in this study, with only one patient dropping out. Results did not show improvement in total UPDRS scores with early exercise. At week 48, the mean change from baseline total UPDRS score was 6.33 in the ESG versus 5.13 in the DSG (p = 0.58). However, patients randomized to the ESG scored significantly better on the Beck Depression Inventory, with a mean improvement of 1.07 points relative to those in the DSG (p = 0.04).

Conclusions: The findings demonstrate that long-term, group exercise programs are feasible in the Parkinson's disease population, with excellent adherence and minimal drop out. While the outcome measures used in our study did not provide strong evidence that exercise has a neuroprotective effect on motor function, earlier participation in a group exercise program had a significant effect on symptoms of depression.

Keywords: Depression; Exercise; Neuroprotection; Parkinson's disease; Tinetti.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Longitudinal mean changes in four efficacy outcomes (1A. Total UPDRS; 1B. UPDRS III; 1C. Timed Walk; 1D. Tinetti) in the early start group (solid line) and delayed start group (dashed line).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

References

    1. Kowal SL, Dall TM, Chakrabarti R, Storm MV, Jain A. The current and projected economic burden of Parkinson’s disease in the United States. Mov Disord. 2013;28:311–8. - PubMed
    1. Nutt JG, Siderowf A, Guttman M, Nelson EC, Schmidt P, Zamudio J, et al. Correlates of health related quality of life (HRQL) in Parkinson’s disease (PD) [abstract] Mov Disord. 2012;27(Suppl 1):546.
    1. Ashburn A, Fazakarley L, Ballinger C, Pickering R, McLellan LD, Fitton C. A randomised controlled trial of a home based exercise programme to reduce the risk of falling among people with Parkinson’s disease. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatr. 2007;78:678–84. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Shulman LM, Katzel LI, Ivey FM, Sorkin JD, Favors K, Anderson KE, et al. Randomized clinical trial of 3 types of physical exercise for patients with Parkinson disease. JAMA Neurol. 2013;70:183–90. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Corcos DM, Robichaud JA, David FJ, Leurgans SE, Vaillancourt DE, Poon C, et al. A two-year randomized controlled trial of progressive resistance exercise for Parkinson’s disease. Mov Disord March. 2013;28(9):1230–40. - PMC - PubMed

Publication types