Objective: To describe indicators of feasibility, including acceptability and safety, of Power training (PT) in Parkinson’s Disease (PD).

Background: PT is a specific method of resistance training. PT with emphasis on high speed with low load has improved the neuromuscular function in PD¹’²’³.

Method: The PARK-BAND pilot was designed as a randomized controlled, single-blinded trial of 12 weeks. Participants were consecutively screened from a list of PD patients with potential eligible criteria that has been compiled from an existing research database of a movement disorder outpatient clinic at a university hospital. Participants were randomized by sex and motor UPDRS in two groups: Power Training Group (PTG) and Health Educational Group (HEG) at 1:1 ratio through a permuted block of 8. The primary outcomes were the feasibility indicators: the recruitment, the retention, the adherence, the adverse events rates, and the participant experience. A self-administered questionnaire was used to evaluate safety, feasibility, satisfaction, acceptance, clinical symptoms, and future use of each intervention throughout questions including Visual Analogue Satisfaction Scales (VASS). The secondary outcomes were the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), the isometric handgrip strength (HG strength), the Parkinson’s disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39), and the Fall Efficiency Scale – International (FES-I).

Results: A total of eight patients were screened for this study out of which four were included in each group. The study was scheduled to last 12 weeks, but it was necessary to stop within 10 weeks because of the COVID-19 pandemic. We reached the final expected number of 63 presences in the PTG and 30 presences in the HEG. The adherence rate to HEG was 80% and to PTG was 94%. There was no adverse event related to the intervention. One subject was discontinued in HEG because of social problems and another one in PTG due need for modification in antiparkinsonian treatment to improve motor fluctuations. The VASS of each program was good in both groups. There was mild improvement in mean left-hand grip strength in the exercise intervention group, in the Five Times Sit-to-Stand Test in both groups, in FES-I in both groups, and PDQ-39 in the exercise group.

Conclusion: PARK-BAND pilot had good acceptance, adherence, and safety rates.

References: 1. Cherup, N. P., Buskard, A. N. L., Strand, K. L., Roberson, K. B., Michiels, E. R., Kuhn, J. E., Lopez, F. A., & Signorile, J. F. (2019). Power vs strength training to improve muscular strength, power, balance and functional movement in individuals diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Experimental Gerontology, 128(110740), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exger.2019.110740; 2. Ni, M., & Signorile, J. F. (2017). High-Speed Resistance Training Modifies Load-Velocity and Load-Power Relationships in Parkinson’s Disease. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 31(10), 2866–2875. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000001730; 3. Ni, M., Signorile, J. F., Balachandran, A., & Potiaumpai, M. (2016). Power training induced change in bradykinesia and muscle power in Parkinson’s disease. Parkinsonism & Related Disorders, 23, 37–44. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.parkreldis.2015.11.028.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/park-band-training-program-for-parkinsons-disease-in-clinical-settings-a-feasibility-study/