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

40 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

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 data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Exercise Snacks for Parkinson's Disease?

Research shows that exercise can help improve movement, balance, and posture in people with Parkinson's Disease. It may also slow down the progression of the disease and improve overall quality of life. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is exercise generally safe for people with Parkinson's disease?

Most clinical trials on exercise for Parkinson's disease do not report adverse events, but high retention rates suggest that participants generally tolerate the exercise well. However, the lack of detailed safety data means it's important to consult with healthcare providers before starting any new exercise program. ^{2 3 4 6 7}

How is the Exercise Snacks treatment for Parkinson's disease different from other treatments?

Exercise Snacks is unique because it involves short, frequent bursts of physical activity, which can improve movement, balance, and reduce stress in Parkinson's patients. Unlike traditional treatments that may focus on medication, this approach emphasizes the benefits of exercise on brain chemistry and overall health. ^{3 8 9 10 11}

What is the purpose of this trial?

People with Parkinson's Disease (PD) benefit from exercise, but many face barriers like motor disability, fatigue, and lack of time, leading to reduced activity. 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 time commitment. These exercise snacks help integrate activity into daily life, making it more accessible for people with PD. The secondary goal is to evaluate the feasibility of this approach through this pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) to inform a larger, future RCT.

Research Team

Daryl J Wile, MD

Principal Investigator

University of British Columbia

Eligibility Criteria

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

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

Treatment Details

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.

Participant Groups

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+

Findings from Research

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 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]

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]

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]

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]

References

1. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Predictors of outcomes in exercisers with Parkinson disease: A two-year longitudinal cohort study. [2019]

2. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Clinical Trial Highlights - Interventions Promoting Physical Activity in Parkinson's Disease. [2023]

3. Germany pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Exercise and Nutritional Benefits in PD: Rodent Models and Clinical Settings. [2018]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Exercise for people in early- or mid-stage Parkinson disease: a 16-month randomized controlled trial. [2022]

5. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Lifestyle Interventions for the Prevention of Parkinson Disease: A Recipe for Action. [2022]

6. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Implementation of a Community-Based Exercise Program for Parkinson Patients: Using Boxing as an Example. [2020]

7. United States 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. [2021]

8. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Physical Activity, Exercise, and Physiotherapy in Parkinson's Disease: Defining the Concepts. [2022]

9. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Exercise training and Parkinson's disease: placebo or essential treatment? [2010]

10. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Barriers to exercise in people with Parkinson disease. [2022]

11. Korea (South) pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Efficacy of Exercise Programs for Parkinson's Disease: Tai Chi versus Combined Exercise. [2021]