Exercise for Parkinson's Disease

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Sule Tinaz

Disqualifiers: Stroke, Epilepsy, Brain tumor, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 3

Duration: 3 months

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests whether high-intensity interval training (HIIT) can enhance brain function and confidence in people with Parkinson's disease. Participants in the HIIT group will attend three exercise classes a week for three months, while the control group will continue their usual activities. Individuals with Parkinson's who are at least 40 years old and willing to join exercise classes might be suitable candidates. The researchers aim to determine if these exercises impact both short-term and long-term outcomes. As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity for participants to contribute to understanding how exercise might improve life with Parkinson's.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What prior data suggests that this high-intensity interval training is safe for individuals with Parkinson's Disease?

Research has shown that high-intensity interval training (HIIT) is generally safe for people with Parkinson's disease. A previous study found HIIT to be feasible and safe for individuals with mild-to-moderate Parkinson's, allowing participants to complete exercises without major issues. Another study discovered that performing HIIT at home could also be safe and suitable for some people with Parkinson’s. Participants experienced no significant changes in blood pressure or heart rate, indicating the exercise is well-tolerated. Overall, while any exercise program carries risks, current research suggests HIIT is a safe option for many people with Parkinson's. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about high-intensity interval training (HIIT) for Parkinson's disease because it offers a fresh approach to managing symptoms. Unlike standard treatments like medication or traditional physical therapy, HIIT involves short bursts of intense exercise followed by rest, which can potentially improve motor function and overall fitness more effectively. This method is not only drug-free, minimizing side effects, but it also encourages consistent physical activity, which is crucial for long-term health benefits in Parkinson's patients. By incorporating HIIT, there is hope to enhance quality of life and slow disease progression in a way that current treatments may not fully address.

What evidence suggests that high-intensity interval training is effective for Parkinson's Disease?

Research shows that high-intensity interval training (HIIT) benefits people with Parkinson's Disease (PD). In this trial, participants in the HIIT group will attend exercise classes to evaluate these benefits. Studies have found that HIIT can improve movement and increase physical abilities. Some research also suggests that HIIT might protect brain cells that produce dopamine, crucial for movement control. Additionally, HIIT improves heart and lung fitness, which is vital for overall health. These findings suggest that HIIT could also enhance thinking skills and confidence in people with PD. ^{5 6 7 8 9}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for individuals over 40 with Parkinson's Disease who are willing to participate in high-intensity exercise classes. It's not suitable for those already highly active, non-English speakers, or people with certain neuropsychiatric disorders or advanced stages of Parkinson's.

Inclusion Criteria

I am 40 years old or older.

I have been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.

I am willing and able to do high-intensity interval training classes.

Exclusion Criteria

High levels of exercise at baseline (exercising at high intensity at least 3 times per week or moderate intensity at least 5 times per week)

Non-English speaking

I have Parkinson's with depression and anxiety but no other brain-related conditions.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants in the HIIT group will attend 3 exercise classes per week for 3 months, while the control group will continue their standard care and usual physical activities

3 months

3 visits per week (in-person) for HIIT group

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for cognitive function and quality of life improvements at 3 and 6 months

3 months

Long-term Follow-up

Long-term effectiveness of HIIT on cognitive function and quality of life is evaluated

6 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• High-intensity Interval Training

Trial Overview The study tests the impact of a high-intensity interval training (HIIT) program on cognitive function and self-efficacy in Parkinson's patients over short-term (3 months) and long-term (6 months) periods.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: High-intensity interval training Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants in the HIIT group will be expected to attend 3 exercise classes per week for 3 months

Group II: Control Active Control 1 Intervention

Participants in the control group will continue their standard care and usual physical activities

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Sule Tinaz

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1

Recruited

30+

Published Research Related to This Trial

A study involving four participants with Parkinson's disease compared the effects of 4 weeks of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) to continuous aerobic exercise, aiming to assess improvements in both motor and non-motor symptoms.

The research also aimed to explore the relationship between exercise types and changes in blood biomarkers related to neuroplasticity and neurodegeneration, which could provide insights into potential disease-modifying effects of HIIT.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

High-Intensity Interval Cycle Ergometer Training in Parkinson's Disease: Protocol for Identifying Individual Response Patterns Using a Single-Subject Research Design. van Wegen, EEH., Hirsch, MA., van de Berg, WDJ., et al.[2020]

The SPARX Trial is a Phase II study involving 126 early-stage Parkinson's disease patients, designed to assess the feasibility and efficacy of high-intensity exercise as a treatment for PD symptoms, comparing it to moderate-intensity exercise and usual care.

The trial aims to determine if either exercise intensity can lead to meaningful clinical improvements in motor scores, while also ensuring participant safety and monitoring dropout rates, which will inform future large-scale studies.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Study in Parkinson disease of exercise (SPARX): translating high-intensity exercise from animals to humans. Moore, CG., Schenkman, M., Kohrt, WM., et al.[2021]

Regular participation in vigorous-intensity exercise, such as Rock Steady Boxing, fosters important social connections for individuals with Parkinson's disease, enhancing their sense of hope and purpose.

Engaging in these exercises not only boosts confidence and determination but also encourages individuals to pursue even more vigorous activities, highlighting the need for collaboration between healthcare providers and community programs in rehabilitation efforts.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The meaning of regular participation in vigorous-intensity exercise among men with Parkinson's disease. Borrero, L., Miller, SA., Hoffman, E.[2022]

A survey of 64 Parkinson's Disease patients revealed that 67% exercised at least twice a week, with walking being the most common form of exercise, and 97% reported improvements in their symptoms due to exercise.

Patients who exercised in groups experienced greater symptomatic improvements compared to those who exercised alone, highlighting the potential added benefits of social interaction and cognitive engagement in group activities like dance therapy.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Self-Reported Exercise Trends in Parkinson's Disease Patients. Raje, P., Ning, S., Branson, C., et al.[2019]

A 6-month community exercise program for people with Parkinson's disease was found to be safe, with high adherence rates (37 out of 53 participants) and no serious adverse events related to the exercise.

The exercise group showed positive effects on motor symptoms, with a small effect size for improvements in walking distance and overall motor function, suggesting potential long-term benefits of regular exercise for this population.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Phase II randomised controlled trial of a 6-month self-managed community exercise programme for people with Parkinson's disease. Collett, J., Franssen, M., Meaney, A., et al.[2021]

Sprint running is a feasible and well-accepted form of exercise for individuals with mild-to-moderate Parkinson's disease, as shown by high satisfaction scores from participants in a study of 16 individuals with Parkinson's and 21 healthy controls.

While individuals with Parkinson's disease demonstrated higher maximal force and power outputs during sprints, their overall sprint performance was similar to that of healthy individuals, indicating that different mechanical strategies may compensate for physical differences.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Sprint exercise for subjects with mild-to-moderate Parkinson's disease: Feasibility and biomechanical outputs. Passos-Monteiro, E., Peyré-Tartaruga, LA., Zanardi, APJ., et al.[2021]

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) has been shown to significantly improve disease severity and quality of life in individuals with Parkinson's disease, based on a systematic review of 15 randomized clinical trials involving 654 participants.

While HIIT demonstrated benefits in motor function and functional mobility compared to control groups, the evidence comparing HIIT to moderate intensity exercise remains limited and shows variability among studies.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Feasibility and effect of high-intensity training on the progression of motor symptoms in adult individuals with Parkinson's disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Sena, IG., Costa, AVD., Santos, IKD., et al.[2023]

Resistance training (RT) and endurance training (ET) are safe and feasible exercise modalities for people with Parkinson's disease, showing significant benefits in muscle strength, functional capacity, and quality of life based on a review of 33 new randomized controlled trials.

RT demonstrated a strong positive impact on muscle strength (SMD = 0.83) and functional capacity, while ET improved cardiorespiratory fitness (SMD = 0.27) and also showed potential benefits for functional outcomes, indicating that both types of exercise can be effective adjunct therapies for managing Parkinson's disease.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Parkinson's disease and intensive exercise therapy - An updated systematic review and meta-analysis. Gamborg, M., Hvid, LG., Dalgas, U., et al.[2022]

The FIGHT-PD study demonstrated that a 15-week boxing training program for 10 participants with early-stage Parkinson's disease was highly feasible, with a 97.7% adherence rate and no withdrawals, indicating strong participant engagement and safety.

Nine out of ten participants showed improvement in their motor scores on the Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS-III), suggesting that boxing training may be an effective intervention for enhancing motor function in individuals with Parkinson's disease.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

FIGHT-PD: A feasibility study of periodized boxing training for Parkinson disease. Blacker, DJ., Fazio, R., Tucak, C., et al.[2023]

The high-intensity multimodal exercise boot camp (HIBC) was found to be feasible and safe for individuals with Parkinson's disease, with no significant differences in adverse events compared to a usual care, low-intensity exercise program.

Participants in the HIBC showed significant improvements in 7 out of 31 measured outcomes related to balance, motor activity, and quality of life, compared to only 3 improvements in the usual care group, suggesting that high-intensity exercise may offer greater benefits for people with Parkinson's disease.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A High-Intensity Exercise Boot Camp for Persons With Parkinson Disease: A Phase II, Pragmatic, Randomized Clinical Trial of Feasibility, Safety, Signal of Efficacy, and Disease Mechanisms. Landers, MR., Navalta, JW., Murtishaw, AS., et al.[2022]

Citations

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Effects of high-intensity interval training and moderate ... High-intensity interval training may be effective in improving sarcopenia in Parkinson's disease patients.

2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10637666/

Feasibility and effect of high-intensity training on the ... The results showed that high-intensity exercise compared with moderate intensity exercise group showed a improve motor function and functional ...

3. medicine.yale.edu medicine.yale.edu/news-article/high-intensity-exercise-can-reverse-neurodegeneration-in-parkinsons-disease/

High-intensity Exercise May Reverse Neurodegeneration in ... Six months of high-intensity aerobic exercise preserves the dopamine-producing neurons in the brain, a small pilot study finds.

4. frontiersin.org frontiersin.org/journals/neurology/articles/10.3389/fneur.2020.569880/full

High-Intensity Interval Cycle Ergometer Training in ... Recent studies suggest that high-intensity interval training (HIIT) is promising for promoting neuroplasticity in human PD, with short training time and reduced ...

5. journals.lww.com journals.lww.com/acsm-tj/fulltext/2025/10170/effects_of_arm_and_leg_high_intensity_interval.6.aspx

Effects of Arm and Leg High-Intensity Interval Training on... In the context of PD, HIIT has been shown to improve motor symptoms, increase cardiorespiratory fitness, and enhance overall physical function (19). Studies ...

6. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36607555/

The feasibility, safety, physiological and clinical effects of ... Conclusion: Up to 12 weeks of supervised HIIT appears to be feasible and safe for some people with mild-to-moderate disease severity. HIIT ...

7. journals.plos.org journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0293357

Feasibility and effect of high-intensity training on the ... The results showed that high-intensity exercise compared with moderate intensity exercise group showed a improve motor function and functional ...

8. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12257130/

Home‐Based High‐Intensity Interval Training for People With ... Preliminary data suggests that home‐based HIIT could be feasible, safe and acceptable for some PwP, although the capacity to stimulate the required exercise ...

9. journals.physiology.org journals.physiology.org/doi/full/10.1152/japplphysiol.00219.2024?doi=10.1152/japplphysiol.00219.2024

High-intensity interval versus moderate ... Gait, balance, blood pressure (BP), and heart rate (HR) were unchanged with training (all P > 0.09). Knee extensor strength increased over time (P = 0.03) but ...