Interval Training for Parkinson's Disease

No longer recruiting at 1 trial location

Overseen By Kylie J. Martinez, MS

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Miami

Disqualifiers: Cardiovascular disease, HIV, Neuromuscular, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 10 weeks

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores how two types of exercise—high-intensity interval training and high-velocity circuit resistance training—can improve heart health, walking ability, and overall function in people with Parkinson's disease. Participants will engage in either interval training or circuit resistance training twice a week for ten weeks. It suits individuals diagnosed with Parkinson's who do not have serious heart issues or other muscle-related diseases that would prevent exercise. As an unphased trial, it provides a unique opportunity to contribute to understanding how exercise can benefit those with Parkinson's.

Do I have to stop taking my current medications for the trial?

The trial protocol does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

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 training programs are safe for Parkinson's patients?

Research has shown that both high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and high-speed circuit resistance training are generally safe for people with Parkinson's disease. Studies indicate that up to 12 weeks of supervised HIIT is well-tolerated by many with mild-to-moderate Parkinson's. This exercise not only boosts fitness but also aids movement problems and may protect the brain.

Research also supports the safety and benefits of high-speed circuit resistance training. It can improve physical abilities in older adults, including those with mobility challenges. Both types of training have proven practical and effective in enhancing overall health and function in people with Parkinson's. While exercise carries some risk, these findings suggest that these training methods are generally safe when done under supervision. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about these exercise-based treatments for Parkinson's Disease because they offer a refreshing approach compared to traditional medication-focused therapies. High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) and High-Velocity Circuit Resistance Training (HVCRT) emphasize improving physical function through structured, dynamic workouts. Unlike standard treatments that often focus on managing symptoms with drugs like Levodopa, these exercise regimens aim to enhance motor skills and overall fitness, potentially leading to better quality of life. By incorporating high-intensity and high-velocity movements, these methods could improve strength, balance, and endurance, addressing some of the physical challenges Parkinson's patients face.

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

This trial will compare two exercise programs for people with Parkinson's disease. Participants in one arm will engage in high-intensity interval training (HIIT). Research has shown that HIIT can improve movement symptoms, enhance heart and lung fitness, and might even protect dopamine-producing brain cells, which Parkinson’s affects. Participants in the other arm will undergo high-velocity circuit resistance training, which helps build muscle strength and improves movement. Both exercise types can enhance movement and overall physical ability in people with Parkinson's. ^{2 4 6 7 8}

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 individuals with Parkinson's Disease, specifically those who have issues with their autonomic nervous system. The exact eligibility criteria are not provided, but typically participants should be medically stable to engage in physical training.

Inclusion Criteria

I am between 30 and 90 years old.

My Parkinson's symptoms are mild, as assessed within the last year.

I have been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.

Exclusion Criteria

Having a pacemaker or other internal medical devices

I have HIV or another immune system condition.

I have a neuromuscular condition that is not Parkinson's disease.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive either high-intensity interval training or high-velocity circuit resistance training 2 times per week for 10 consecutive weeks

10 weeks

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in heart rate variability, gait, and functional performance

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• High-Intensity Interval Training
• High-Velocity Circuit Resistance Training

Trial Overview The study compares two exercise approaches: high-intensity interval training (short bursts of intense exercise) and high-velocity circuit resistance training (strength exercises at a fast pace), focusing on their effects on heart rate variability, walking ability, and overall function.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: High-Intensity Interval Training Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants in this group will receive high-intensity interval training 2 times per week for 10 consecutive weeks.

Group II: High-Velocity Circuit Resistance Training Active Control 1 Intervention

Participants in this group will receive high-velocity circuit resistance training 2 times per week for 10 consecutive weeks.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Miami

Lead Sponsor

Trials

976

Recruited

423,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

A 12-week high-intensity interval training (HIIT) program significantly reduced inflammation markers, such as TNF-α, and improved antioxidant capacity in the serum of 28 Parkinson's disease patients, suggesting potential benefits for managing the disease.

The study also found a decrease in neutrophil levels and ratios, alongside an increase in the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase, indicating that HIIT may help slow the progression of Parkinson's disease by enhancing the body's inflammatory response and antioxidant defenses.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

High-intensity interval training modulates inflammatory response in Parkinson's disease. Malczynska-Sims, P., Chalimoniuk, M., Wronski, Z., et al.[2022]

This study is a Phase 3 clinical trial involving 370 participants with Parkinson's disease, aiming to determine if high-intensity endurance exercise can slow disease progression compared to moderate-intensity exercise over 18 months.

The primary outcome will be measured using the MDS-UPDRS motor score, and if successful, this research could lead to a significant breakthrough in Parkinson's treatment, improving the quality of life for patients and their caregivers.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Study in Parkinson's disease of exercise phase 3 (SPARX3): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Patterson, CG., Joslin, E., Gil, AB., et al.[2023]

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]

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is feasible and safe for people with mild-to-moderate Parkinson's disease, with 90-100% program completion reported in studies lasting up to 12 weeks.

HIIT significantly improves cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2peak/max) and may enhance brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels and motor symptoms, although it did not show superior effects compared to moderate-intensity continuous exercise.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The feasibility, safety, physiological and clinical effects of high-intensity interval training for people with Parkinson's: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Harpham, C., Gunn, H., Marsden, J., et al.[2023]

Sprint running is a feasible and well-accepted form of exercise for individuals with mild-to-moderate Parkinson's disease, as shown by high satisfaction scores from participants in a study of 16 individuals with Parkinson's and 21 healthy controls.

While individuals with Parkinson's disease demonstrated higher maximal force and power outputs during sprints, their overall sprint performance was similar to that of healthy individuals, indicating that different mechanical strategies may compensate for physical differences.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Sprint exercise for subjects with mild-to-moderate Parkinson's disease: Feasibility and biomechanical outputs. Passos-Monteiro, E., Peyré-Tartaruga, LA., Zanardi, APJ., et al.[2021]

The FIGHT-PD study demonstrated that a 15-week boxing training program for 10 participants with early-stage Parkinson's disease was highly feasible, with a 97.7% adherence rate and no withdrawals, indicating strong participant engagement and safety.

Nine out of ten participants showed improvement in their motor scores on the Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS-III), suggesting that boxing training may be an effective intervention for enhancing motor function in individuals with Parkinson's disease.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

FIGHT-PD: A feasibility study of periodized boxing training for Parkinson disease. Blacker, DJ., Fazio, R., Tucak, C., et al.[2023]

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) has been shown to significantly improve disease severity and quality of life in individuals with Parkinson's disease, based on a systematic review of 15 randomized clinical trials involving 654 participants.

While HIIT demonstrated benefits in motor function and functional mobility compared to control groups, the evidence comparing HIIT to moderate intensity exercise remains limited and shows variability among studies.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Feasibility and effect of high-intensity training on the progression of motor symptoms in adult individuals with Parkinson's disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Sena, IG., Costa, AVD., Santos, IKD., et al.[2023]

A study involving four participants with Parkinson's disease compared the effects of 4 weeks of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) to continuous aerobic exercise, aiming to assess improvements in both motor and non-motor symptoms.

The research also aimed to explore the relationship between exercise types and changes in blood biomarkers related to neuroplasticity and neurodegeneration, which could provide insights into potential disease-modifying effects of HIIT.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

High-Intensity Interval Cycle Ergometer Training in Parkinson's Disease: Protocol for Identifying Individual Response Patterns Using a Single-Subject Research Design. van Wegen, EEH., Hirsch, MA., van de Berg, WDJ., et al.[2020]

The high-intensity multimodal exercise boot camp (HIBC) was found to be feasible and safe for individuals with Parkinson's disease, with no significant differences in adverse events compared to a usual care, low-intensity exercise program.

Participants in the HIBC showed significant improvements in 7 out of 31 measured outcomes related to balance, motor activity, and quality of life, compared to only 3 improvements in the usual care group, suggesting that high-intensity exercise may offer greater benefits for people with Parkinson's disease.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A High-Intensity Exercise Boot Camp for Persons With Parkinson Disease: A Phase II, Pragmatic, Randomized Clinical Trial of Feasibility, Safety, Signal of Efficacy, and Disease Mechanisms. Landers, MR., Navalta, JW., Murtishaw, AS., et al.[2022]

Citations

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Feasibility and effect of high-intensity training on the ... The results showed that high-intensity exercise compared with moderate intensity exercise group showed a improve motor function and functional ...

2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10772299/

Home‐based high‐intensity interval training for people with ... HIIT has been found to be feasible and safe for some PwP and can improve cardiorespiratory fitness, motor symptoms, and levels of brain‐derived ...

3. medicine.yale.edu medicine.yale.edu/news-article/high-intensity-exercise-can-reverse-neurodegeneration-in-parkinsons-disease/

High-intensity Exercise May Reverse Neurodegeneration in ... Six months of high-intensity aerobic exercise preserves the dopamine-producing neurons in the brain, a small pilot study finds.

4. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S135380202300980X

Effects of high-intensity interval training and moderate ... This study suggests that HIIT may be superior to MICT in improving sarcopenia in patients with PD. Further large-scale investigations are required to confirm ...

5. journals.lww.com journals.lww.com/acsm-tj/fulltext/2025/10170/effects_of_arm_and_leg_high_intensity_interval.6.aspx

Effects of Arm and Leg High-Intensity Interval Training on... In the context of PD, HIIT has been shown to improve motor symptoms, increase cardiorespiratory fitness, and enhance overall physical function (19). Studies ...

6. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36607555/

The feasibility, safety, physiological and clinical effects of ... Conclusion: Up to 12 weeks of supervised HIIT appears to be feasible and safe for some people with mild-to-moderate disease severity. HIIT ...

7. journals.plos.org journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0293357

Feasibility and effect of high-intensity training on the ... The results showed that high-intensity exercise compared with moderate intensity exercise group showed a improve motor function and functional ...

8. journals.physiology.org journals.physiology.org/doi/full/10.1152/japplphysiol.00219.2024?doi=10.1152/japplphysiol.00219.2024

High-intensity interval versus moderate ... In participants with PD, HIIT and MICT both increased V̇o2peak and led to improvements in motor symptoms and perceived fatigue; HIIT may offer the potential for ...