Hula for Parkinson's Disease

(PAHU Trial)

Overseen By Michiko Bruno, MD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Hawaii

Disqualifiers: Severe comorbidities, Drug dependence, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 12

15 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

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 seems focused on adding a hula program as a non-drug approach, so you may not need to change your medications, but it's best to confirm with the study team.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Hula for Parkinson's Disease?

Research shows that dance can help improve motor symptoms like balance in people with Parkinson's Disease, suggesting that similar movement-based activities like Hula might also be beneficial. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

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

The Hula treatment for Parkinson's disease is unique because it incorporates dance as a form of therapy, similar to other dance programs like tango and ballroom dancing, which have shown benefits in improving mobility, balance, and well-being in people with Parkinson's. Unlike traditional drug treatments, this approach focuses on physical activity and social engagement to enhance quality of life. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

What is the purpose of this trial?

Parkinson's improvement Activated by Hula Understanding (PAHU), a pilot study, will evaluate the feasibility of hula program on patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Hula combines several aspects-moderate physical activity, cardiovascular risk reduction, social support opportunities, and other stress-reducing qualities that have potential to prevent further neurodegeneration, improve balance and mobility, help non-motor symptoms and quality of life of PD patients in a sustainable and relatable fashion. The investigators will create a hula program specifically to the needs of patients with PD with mobility difficulty as a non-pharmacological intervention and conduct a pilot study to test the feasibility of such program. The investigators will learn from leaders of the Dance for PD (NYC), an internationally acclaimed program offering a range of dance classes for PD patients), as well as other key informants. The investigators will create once a week hula program for 3 months for PD patients and assess the feasibility of such program. Participants will undergo motor testing before and after the hula program, and will be interviewed for their feedback.

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for individuals over 25 years old with a primary diagnosis of idiopathic Parkinson's Disease, confirmed by a specialist. Participants should be at Hoehn and Yahr Stage 2.5 or below, meaning they can walk independently without balance issues, and must be able to give informed consent.

Inclusion Criteria

I have Parkinson's diagnosed by a specialist, am over 25, can walk without help, and can consent.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Hula Program

Participants engage in a hula program tailored for PD patients, consisting of one-hour sessions once a week for 3 months

12 weeks

12 visits (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after the hula program, including motor testing and interviews for feedback

4 weeks

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Hula for Parkinson's

Trial Overview The PAHU study tests the feasibility of a hula program tailored for Parkinson's patients with mobility difficulties. It involves moderate physical activity designed to potentially prevent neurodegeneration, improve balance/mobility, reduce cardiovascular risks, provide social support, and enhance overall quality of life.

Participant Groups

Group I: Hula Pilot Intervention Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Hula pilot 3 month program for PD patients.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Hawaii

Lead Sponsor

Trials

122

Recruited

55,200+

Findings from Research

Dance interventions have been shown to significantly improve motor symptoms, particularly balance and motor symptom severity, in individuals with mild to moderate Parkinson's disease, based on a systematic review of 16 randomized controlled trials involving 636 participants.

While dance shows promise for enhancing motor function, further research is needed to explore its effects on non-motor symptoms and overall quality of life, with recommendations for larger studies using mixed-methods approaches to better understand the most effective program elements.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The efficacy of dance for improving motor impairments, non-motor symptoms, and quality of life in Parkinson's disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Carapellotti, AM., Stevenson, R., Doumas, M.[2023]

The Dance for Parkinson's Disease® (DfPD®) program, conducted over 8 weeks with 16 Greek patients, significantly improved quality of life, depressive symptoms, fatigue, cognitive functions, balance, and body mass index, indicating its efficacy as a therapeutic intervention.

The program was found to be safe and feasible, with no adverse events reported, high adherence (93.75%), and low dropout rates (12.5%), suggesting it is a viable non-pharmacological option for managing Parkinson's Disease.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of a structured dance program in Parkinson's disease. A Greek pilot study. Elpidoforou, M., Bakalidou, D., Drakopoulou, M., et al.[2022]

A pilot study involving 10 patients with Parkinson's disease showed that participating in tango dance lessons, combined with home exercises, led to improvements in quality of life and motor function as measured by the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale.

The study suggests that a home-based exercise protocol derived from tango dance can be an effective rehabilitative approach for individuals with Parkinson's disease, addressing organizational barriers to participation in traditional dance classes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Feasibility of home exercises to enhance the benefits of tango dancing in people with Parkinson's disease. Albani, G., Veneziano, G., Lunardon, C., et al.[2019]

A dance exercise program using the video game 'Dance Dance Revolution' (DDR) was found to be enjoyable and easy to use for 16 participants with mild to moderate Parkinson's disease, potentially improving their adherence to physical activity.

Participants reported benefits such as improved balance and coordination, indicating that DDR could effectively incorporate key physical therapy recommendations for Parkinson's disease, warranting further research in a larger study.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Perceptions of a Videogame-Based Dance Exercise Program Among Individuals with Parkinson's Disease. Natbony, LR., Zimmer, A., Ivanco, LS., et al.[2021]

This study aims to assess the feasibility of a larger trial evaluating the benefits of dance for people with Parkinson's disease, involving 50 participants who will be randomized to either a dance intervention or usual care.

The research will explore not only the physical benefits, such as balance and spinal posture, but also the personal experiences of participants, which could provide valuable insights for future dance programs tailored for individuals with Parkinson's disease.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A design to investigate the feasibility and effects of partnered ballroom dancing on people with Parkinson disease: randomized controlled trial protocol. Ashburn, A., Roberts, L., Pickering, R., et al.[2022]

References

1. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A controlled trial of an educational programme for people with Parkinson's disease. [2013]

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

Use of a self-rating scale of the nature and severity of symptoms in Parkinson's Disease (PRO-PD): Correlation with quality of life and existing scales of disease severity. [2023]

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

Minimal clinically important change on the unified Parkinson's disease rating scale. [2022]

4. Austria pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Changes in health related quality of life in patients with Parkinson's disease with and without posteroventral pallidotomy. [2019]

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

The efficacy of dance for improving motor impairments, non-motor symptoms, and quality of life in Parkinson's disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis. [2023]

6. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of a structured dance program in Parkinson's disease. A Greek pilot study. [2022]

7. Scotland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Feasibility of home exercises to enhance the benefits of tango dancing in people with Parkinson's disease. [2019]

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

Perceptions of a Videogame-Based Dance Exercise Program Among Individuals with Parkinson's Disease. [2021]

9. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Therapeutic Argentine Tango Dancing for People with Mild Parkinson's Disease: A Feasibility Study. [2020]

10. Canada pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A design to investigate the feasibility and effects of partnered ballroom dancing on people with Parkinson disease: randomized controlled trial protocol. [2022]