Exercise for Parkinson's Disease

Overseen By Daryl J Wile, MD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of British Columbia

Disqualifiers: Physical disability, Hoehn & Yahr 4, others

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 12 weeks

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests whether short bursts of exercise, known as "exercise snacks," can help people with Parkinson's Disease (PD) remain active despite challenges like fatigue and motor disability. These quick workouts require no equipment and can be done anywhere, making it easier for those with PD to incorporate exercise into their daily routine. The study will compare these exercise snacks to lighter movement breaks to determine which is more effective. It suits individuals diagnosed with PD who can exercise and have internet access for study activities. As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity to explore innovative exercise methods that could enhance daily life for those with PD.

Do I need to stop my current medications for this trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It is best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your doctor.

What prior data suggests that this exercise method is safe for people with Parkinson's Disease?

Research has shown that short bursts of exercise, known as exercise snacks, are generally safe for people with Parkinson's disease. Most studies on exercise for Parkinson's do not report serious side effects, indicating these are rare. Many participants remain in these studies, suggesting they find the exercises manageable.

Other research has found that exercise snacks can improve heart health and overall well-being in various groups. They effectively strengthen leg muscles without requiring much time or special equipment, making them a practical choice for those who might find longer exercise routines challenging.

Overall, the safety data for exercise snacks is positive, with few negative reports. This suggests they are a safe way for people with Parkinson's to stay active. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the "Exercise Snacks" protocol for Parkinson's disease because it introduces a novel approach to managing symptoms through short, high-intensity bursts of exercise. Unlike traditional treatments, which often rely on medications like Levodopa or deep brain stimulation, this method emphasizes physical activity as a primary intervention. These exercise snacks are designed to be more accessible and less time-consuming, potentially allowing for more frequent engagement and improved adherence. The hope is that these short, intense exercise sessions can help improve motor function and overall quality of life for individuals with Parkinson's, offering a complementary option to existing medical therapies.

What evidence suggests that exercise snacks might be an effective treatment for Parkinson's Disease?

Research has shown that short, intense bursts of exercise, known as exercise snacks, can improve physical abilities in various groups. These quick activities boost heart health and overall well-being. In this trial, participants will join different arms to assess the effects of exercise snacks on Parkinson's Disease. One arm will engage in higher intensity exercise snacks, which studies suggest can enhance leg strength and movement. Another arm will take part in active movement breaks, involving low intensity or stretching exercises. Participants in earlier studies followed the program well, indicating its manageability for many. While more research is needed specifically for Parkinson's, early results are encouraging for making exercise easier and more effective. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Daryl J Wile, MD

Principal Investigator

University of British Columbia

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for individuals with Parkinson's Disease who find it challenging to exercise due to motor disability, fatigue, or time constraints. The study will explore if short, intense bursts of activity can be a practical way for them to stay active.

Inclusion Criteria

Medically cleared to exercise by their physician

I am 19 or older with a diagnosis of Parkinson's disease.

I can move around on my own but might have some balance issues.

Exclusion Criteria

I have a physical condition that stops me from exercising.

I need help walking and may use a cane or walker.

No access to reliable internet connection

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants engage in a 12-week pilot randomized controlled trial comparing Exercise Snacks to Active Movement Breaks

12 weeks

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Exercise Snacks

Trial Overview The 'exercise snacks' intervention being tested involves quick, vigorous activities that participants with Parkinson's can do easily without special equipment or much time. This pilot randomized controlled trial will check how effective and feasible this method is.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Exercise Snack Active Control 1 Intervention

Participants to receive higher intensity exercise snack exercises

Group II: Active Movement Breaks Placebo Group 1 Intervention

While not a true placebo (i.e., no intervention at all) participants in this arm will receive low intensity / stretching based exercises throughout the study period.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of British Columbia

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,506

Recruited

2,528,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

Exercise is a crucial part of managing Parkinson's disease (PD) and is shown to improve physical fitness, but there is a lack of standardized recommendations due to the variability in exercise interventions across 83 clinical trials.

The most common exercise prescription found was multimodal exercise for 60 minutes, twice a week over 12 weeks, highlighting the need for increased physical activity levels as an effective strategy for PD management.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Physical Activity, Exercise, and Physiotherapy in Parkinson's Disease: Defining the Concepts. Bouça-Machado, R., Rosário, A., Caldeira, D., et al.[2022]

In a 16-month study involving 121 individuals with Parkinson's disease, the flexibility/balance/function exercise (FBF) program showed significant improvements in overall physical function compared to a home-based control group at 4 months.

The supervised aerobic exercise (AE) program demonstrated better walking economy than the FBF program at multiple time points (4, 10, and 16 months), indicating its effectiveness in enhancing physical performance in individuals with Parkinson's disease.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Exercise for people in early- or mid-stage Parkinson disease: a 16-month randomized controlled trial. Schenkman, M., Hall, DA., Barón, AE., et al.[2022]

A review of 53 randomized controlled trials on exercise and motor training for Parkinson's disease showed that most interventions were effective and well-supervised, lasting an average of 8.3 weeks, with high participant retention rates (69% retained ≥85% of participants).

However, the lack of detailed reporting on adherence and adverse events in 72% of trials may hinder clinicians' ability to implement these programs effectively in practice, as they need to weigh the benefits against potential risks.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Exercise and motor training in people with Parkinson's disease: a systematic review of participant characteristics, intervention delivery, retention rates, adherence, and adverse events in clinical trials. Allen, NE., Sherrington, C., Suriyarachchi, GD., et al.[2021]

Both Tai Chi and combined stretching-strengthening exercises improved functional fitness in patients with mild-to-moderate Parkinson's disease after 8 weeks of training, compared to a control group that showed deterioration.

Tai Chi specifically enhanced the emotional quality of life for participants, while the combined stretching-strengthening exercise improved social quality of life, indicating that Tai Chi may be a particularly beneficial exercise strategy for improving overall well-being in Parkinson's patients.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Efficacy of Exercise Programs for Parkinson's Disease: Tai Chi versus Combined Exercise. Cheon, SM., Chae, BK., Sung, HR., et al.[2021]

A Parkinson's disease-specific boxing program was well-received by participants, with 81% of patients and 80% of instructors expressing high satisfaction after an initial workshop, indicating strong acceptability of the program.

After 18 months, the program successfully expanded from 10 to 40 participants, with only mild adverse effects reported, suggesting that the program is safe and beneficial for individuals with Parkinson's disease.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Implementation of a Community-Based Exercise Program for Parkinson Patients: Using Boxing as an Example. Domingos, J., Radder, D., Riggare, S., et al.[2020]

Citations

1. cdn.clinicaltrials.gov cdn.clinicaltrials.gov/large-docs/87/NCT06915987/Prot_SAP_000.pdf

SNACK PD Protocol 4.0.docx Exercise snacks for people with Parkinson Disease: A pilot randomised controlled trial. Short title: SNACK PD. H24-02753. Principal ...

2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10403822/

Exercise snacking to improve physical function in pre-frail ... Results. Eighteen participants provided follow-up data and showed 85% adherence to the exercise snacking intervention, measured as the ...

3. ctv.veeva.com ctv.veeva.com/study/parkinson-disease-and-exercise-snacks

Parkinson Disease and Exercise Snacks - ClinicalTrials.Veeva Evidence from other populations suggests that exercise snacks can significantly improve cardiovascular fitness and overall health outcomes. ...

4. onlinelibrary.wiley.com onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/phn.13495

Perceptions and Experiences of Exercise Snacks Among ... The quantitative data have reported the positive efficacy of exercise snacks. One study reported exercise snacks can benefit leg strength and ...

5. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/phase-parkinson-disease-3-2025-4dc91

Exercise for Parkinson's Disease · Info for Participants This study aims to assess the effectiveness of "exercise snacks," short bursts of vigorous activity that can be done anywhere without equipment or a significant ...