Objective: To determine if a high intensity exercise and fall prevention boot camp (HIBC) would produce greater benefit than a low intensity control (Fitness Counts Exercise Program (FCEP)) in Parkinson’s disease (PD).

Background: Most exercise programs for older adults are low to moderate in intensity. Recent evidence suggests that higher intensity exercise may be more beneficial. This has not been well vetted in PD.

Methods: Participants with PD were randomized into either an 8-week HIBC or FCEP, supervised by physiotherapists at community exercise gyms. The following were assessed pre and post: 1. balance (mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test (mini-BESTest)); 2. balance self-efficacy (Activities Specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABC), Falls Efficacy Scale (FES)); 3. physical activity (International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ)); 4. PD symptoms (Unified Parkinson’s disease Rating Scale (MDS-UDPRS), Parkinson’s disease Questionnaire-39 (PDQ)); 5. fatigue and endurance (6 Minute Walk Test (6MWT), Parkinson Fatigue Scale (PFS)); and, 6. muscle/bone strength (30 second Sit-To-Stand Test (STS)), bone mineral densiometry (BMD)).

Results: There were no differences between the HIBC (n=13, mean age = 63.7±11.3; 9 males) and FCEP (n=11, mean age=64.9±6.2; 8 males) on demographics (age, gender, fall history, PD duration/medications, Hoehn and Yahr Stage), ps≥.164. The HIBC improved on the miniBESTest on/off medication (ps≤.027) while the FEB did not (ps≥.140). Both improved on the FES (ps≤.022) but not the ABC (ps≥.359). The HIBC increased time in moderate physical activity (p=.004) but the FCEP did not (p=.225). MDS-UPDRS Parts I-III decreased on/off in the HIBC (ps≤.050) but the FCEP did only for Part I on/off (ps≤.046) and Part III on (p=.050). There were no changes for either on the PDQ (ps≥.068). The 6MWT improved in the HIBC on/off (p≤.050) but only FCEP on (p=.015). The PFS decreased in the HIBC (p=.033) but not in the FCEP (p=.208). STS improved in the FCEP on (p=.026) but not in the HIBC (p=.154). Increased hip density in the HIBC was the only noted BMD change (p=.047).

Conclusions: High intensity exercise compared to low intensity exercise produced greater improvements in balance, physical activity, PD symptoms, endurance, fatigue, and bone health in people with PD.

« Back to 2016 International Congress

MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/a-phase-ii-pragmatic-randomized-clinical-trial-on-a-high-intensity-exercise-and-fall-prevention-boot-camp-for-parkinsons-disease-signal-of-efficacy/