Objective: To examine the potential benefits of an exercise program on motor and non-motor symptoms in people with Essential Tremor (ET)

Background: Besides tremor, patients with ET are more likely to have motor and non- motor symptoms including gait deficits, depression and anxiety, cognitive impairments and fatigue. Current treatments used for ET include pharmacological interventions and neurosurgical ablative procedures in select cases. The value of exercise training has not been thoroughly investigated.

Method: 6 patients with ET were enrolled in the study. Participants completed a 6 week- exercise program of a combined resistive and aerobic training (AREP) of the upper limbs. The AER included 40 minutes of a supervised moderate to high intensity exercise using a rowing machine. The resistive training included 10-12 repetitions for 3 sets for each of the following: dumbbell bicep curls, wrist flexion, and wrist extension exercises. Participants were evaluated before the exercise program and on completion of the intervention on a battery of outcome measures. Ten meter walking test (TMW) was used to evaluate walking speed, Symbol Digit Modalities (SDM) was used to evaluate cognitive function, grip strength was used to evaluate strength, Parkinson’s Fatigue scale (PFS) was used to assess fatigue, and the Hamilton Anxiety/Depression Rating Scale (HAM) was used to evaluate anxiety and depression. Paired t-test was used to explore differences between baseline and follow-up scores. In addition, effect sizes were calculated for all outcome measures.

Results: At the follow- up assessment (i.e. post intervention), the fatigue and anxiety and depression scores significantly improved when compared with baseline scores (P < 0.05). In addition, a large effect size (ES > 0.8) was observed on these outcome measures. However, similar improvement on walking speed and cognitive function scores failed to be achieved though moderate effect sizes were observed for these outcomes.

Conclusion: Exercise training for people with ET is feasible and has the potential to derive benefits particularly on non-motor symptoms. Future RCT is warranted.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/the-effect-of-exercise-training-on-motor-and-non-motor-symptoms-in-people-with-essential-tremor-a-feasibility-pilot-study/