Resistance Training for Parkinson's Disease

Overseen By Ethan J Elkins, MS

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Miami

Disqualifiers: Cardiovascular disease, HIV, Neuromuscular diseases, others

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

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 aims to determine if a new exercise method, called top set resistance training, can improve strength and daily activities for people with Parkinson's disease. Researchers seek to compare this method with traditional power training to assess its effectiveness in boosting independence and mental sharpness. Participants will engage in various exercise routines for up to 12 weeks to identify the most effective approach. Individuals with Parkinson's who do not have other major health issues may be suitable candidates. As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity to explore innovative exercise methods that could enhance quality of life.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

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

What prior data suggests that these resistance training methods are safe for adults with Parkinson's disease?

Research shows that resistance training is generally safe for people with Parkinson's disease. Studies indicate it does not worsen symptoms and may improve muscle strength and balance. Both Top Set Resistance Training and Power Resistance Training are well-tolerated. Specifically, exercises that strengthen the legs can enhance leg strength and walking ability. Progressive resistance exercises, included in both training methods, effectively benefit those with mild to moderate Parkinson's. Overall, exercise plays a crucial role in rehabilitation for Parkinson's and is considered safe with potential benefits. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the resistance training methods being explored for Parkinson's disease because they present a new approach compared to traditional treatments like medication and physical therapy. Unlike standard care, which often focuses on managing symptoms through medication like Levodopa, Power Resistance Training and Top Set Resistance Training emphasize building muscle strength and improving motor function through targeted physical exercises. These techniques aim to enhance neuromuscular control and potentially slow disease progression, offering a promising non-drug alternative that could complement existing therapies.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for Parkinson's disease?

Research has shown that resistance training can strengthen muscles in people with Parkinson's disease. Studies have found that this exercise improves leg strength, crucial for everyday tasks. In this trial, participants will join one of two groups: one receiving top set resistance training and the other receiving power resistance training. Top set resistance training gradually increases weights to near-maximum levels to build strength, potentially boosting strength more effectively than traditional methods. Early results suggest that power resistance training also helps improve movement and quality of life for those with Parkinson's. Both methods aim to build strength, essential for maintaining independence. ^{1 3 4 6 7}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Joseph F. Signorile, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Miami

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for adults with Parkinson's Disease who are interested in improving their physical power, which can help with daily activities and cognitive functions. Specific eligibility criteria are not provided, so it's best to contact the study organizers for detailed inclusion and exclusion factors.

Inclusion Criteria

I have been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.

I am between 30 and 90 years old.

My Parkinson's disease is at a moderate stage or less.

Exclusion Criteria

I have an injury that stops me from exercising.

I have HIV or another immune system condition.

Montreal Cognitive Assessment Score below 18

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive either power resistance training or top set resistance training for up to 12 weeks

12 weeks

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Top Set Resistance Training

Trial Overview The study is testing two types of resistance training: traditional power training (exercises done as fast as possible) versus top set resistance training (power exercises preceded by progressively heavier warm-up sets up to 90% of maximum strength). The goal is to see if top set improves independence more effectively.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Top Set Resistance Training Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Participants will be in this group receiving the top set resistance training for up to 12 weeks.

Group II: Power Resistance Training Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Participants will be in this group receiving the power resistance training for up to 12 weeks.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Miami

Lead Sponsor

Trials

976

Recruited

423,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

Resistance training (RT) significantly improves knee extension, knee flexion, and leg press strength in people with Parkinson's disease compared to control groups, based on a systematic review of nine studies.

Combining RT with other forms of exercise, such as aerobic or balance training, leads to even greater improvements in strength, although RT alone may not always outperform other exercise types for certain muscle groups.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of Resistance Training on Measures of Muscular Strength in People with Parkinson's Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Roeder, L., Costello, JT., Smith, SS., et al.[2018]

A systematic review of seven studies involving 401 participants with Parkinson's disease found that moderate intensity resistance training significantly improved muscle strength, balance, and motor symptoms after 8-10 weeks of training, with sessions occurring 2-3 times per week.

The effectiveness of resistance training was highlighted by a significant standardized mean difference (SMD) of 0.61 for muscle strength and 0.48 for motor symptoms, indicating that this type of exercise can be beneficial for individuals with early to moderate stages of the disease.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effectiveness of resistance training on muscle strength and physical function in people with Parkinson's disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Chung, CL., Thilarajah, S., Tan, D.[2018]

Resistance exercise (RE) can lead to improvements in upper limb muscle strength, cardiovascular fitness, and postural balance in individuals with mild to moderate Parkinson Disease, based on a review of 10 studies involving 270 participants.

Despite these benefits in body structure and function, RE did not significantly enhance overall quality of life or mobility, indicating that while exercise is beneficial, it may not fully address all aspects of living with Parkinson Disease.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effect of Resistance Exercise on Body Structure and Function, Activity, and Participation in Individuals With Parkinson Disease: A Systematic Review. Braz de Oliveira, MP., Maria Dos Reis, L., Pereira, ND.[2021]

Resistance training (RT) significantly improves leg strength (SMD = 0.79) and balance capability (SMD = 0.34) in individuals with Parkinson's disease, based on a meta-analysis of 31 studies involving 1,239 participants.

RT also enhances quality of life (MD = -7.22) and shows improvements in gait performance, particularly in fast gait velocity and timed-up-and-go tests, indicating its potential as an effective rehabilitation strategy for managing motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Lower Limb Resistance Training in Individuals With Parkinson's Disease: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Li, X., He, J., Yun, J., et al.[2020]

An 8-week resistance training program significantly improved maximum leg press strength relative to body mass in 18 individuals with Parkinson's disease, indicating enhanced lower-body strength (P < .05).

The training involved moderate volume, high-load exercises performed twice weekly, demonstrating that this type of resistance training can be beneficial for strength and function in people with Parkinson's disease.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of moderate-volume, high-load lower-body resistance training on strength and function in persons with Parkinson's disease: a pilot study. Schilling, BK., Pfeiffer, RF., Ledoux, MS., et al.[2021]

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]

In a study involving 39 patients with moderate to severe Parkinson's disease, resistance training with instability (RTI) significantly improved mobility, cognitive function, and quality of life compared to a control group, while traditional resistance training (RT) did not show these benefits.

Both RT and RTI improved muscle strength, but only RTI led to significant enhancements in the timed up and go test (TUG), Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS-III), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), and Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39) scores, suggesting that high motor complexity exercises may be particularly beneficial for patients with Parkinson's disease.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Resistance Training with Instability for Patients with Parkinson's Disease. Silva-Batista, C., Corcos, DM., Roschel, H., et al.[2022]

Progressive resistance exercise significantly improves muscle strength in individuals with mild to moderate Parkinson's disease, with a moderate effect size (standardized mean difference of 0.50) and a notable increase in walking capacity (average improvement of 96 meters).

While this type of exercise is beneficial for strength and walking ability, it does not lead to clinically meaningful improvements in all physical performance measures, indicating that its effects may vary across different activities.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Progressive resistance exercise improves strength and physical performance in people with mild to moderate Parkinson's disease: a systematic review. Lima, LO., Scianni, A., Rodrigues-de-Paula, F.[2022]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9376630/

Effectiveness of aerobic and resistance training on the motor ... Aerobic and resistance training are common complementary therapies to improve motor symptoms in people with Parkinson's disease (PD).

2. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1836955313701413

Progressive resistance exercise improves strength and ... This review suggests that progressive resistance exercise can be effective and worthwhile in people with mild to moderate Parkinson's disease.

3. bmcgeriatr.biomedcentral.com bmcgeriatr.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12877-022-03510-9

a systematic review and network meta-analysis | BMC Geriatrics There is low quality evidence that PT, Yoga, BWS_TT, Dance, and RT are the most effective treatments, pending outcome of interest, for adults with PD.

4. karger.com karger.com/ene/article/86/1/25/841895/Effectiveness-of-Progressive-Resistance-Training

Effectiveness of Progressive Resistance Training in ... Conclusions: This meta-analysis revealed that PRT had positive effects on freezing of gait, muscle strength, and improved quality of life during ...

5. journals.plos.org journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0314058

Effect of power training on physical functional performance of ... The main findings were PT interventions had no superior effect on PFP outcomes in PD patients when compared to control groups or alternative interventions. The ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7270996/

Evidence of Rehabilitative Impact of Progressive Resistance ... The aim of this umbrella review was to provide evidence that PRT improves strength in PD, and the results favor the inclusion of strengthening ...

7. jnnp.bmj.com jnnp.bmj.com/content/95/11/1077

Exercise as medicine in Parkinson's disease Exercise is safe and represents a cornerstone in PD rehabilitation, but exercise may have even more fundamental benefits that could change clinical practice.