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

40 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

This project will focus on improving power in adults with Parkinson's disease, since power is related to performance of daily activities and memory and decision making. The study will compare traditional power training, where the participant does all exercises as fast as possible to top set resistance training, where the participant does power training, but it is preceded by warm-up sets that progress in weight until the participant reaches 90% of the person's maximum strength. If the top set method is better than traditional power training, it could be more beneficial than existing methods in improving independence in adults with Parkinson's disease.

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 data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Top Set Resistance Training for Parkinson's Disease?

Research shows that resistance training can improve muscle strength and physical function in people with Parkinson's disease, which suggests that Top Set Resistance Training might also be beneficial for these patients. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is resistance training safe for people with Parkinson's disease?

Resistance training is generally considered safe for people with Parkinson's disease and does not worsen symptoms. It may also improve muscle strength, balance, and quality of life. ^{1 2 4 6 7}

How does Top Set Resistance Training differ from other treatments for Parkinson's disease?

Top Set Resistance Training is unique because it focuses on high-load, lower-body exercises to improve strength and function in people with Parkinson's disease. This approach specifically targets leg strength, balance, and gait performance, which are crucial for managing motor symptoms and enhancing quality of life in these patients. ^{1 2 5 6 8}

Research Team

Joseph F. Signorile, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Miami

Eligibility Criteria

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.

My heart condition stops me from joining a physical training program.

Timeline

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

Treatment Details

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.

Participant Groups

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+

Findings from Research

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

References

1. United States 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. [2018]

2. England 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. [2018]

3. Netherlands 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. [2022]

4. United States 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. [2021]

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

Resistance Training with Instability for Patients with Parkinson's Disease. [2022]

6. Switzerland 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. [2020]

7. Denmark pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Parkinson's disease and intensive exercise therapy - An updated systematic review and meta-analysis. [2022]

8. United States 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. [2021]