None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Muscle power is reduced in people with Parkinson’s disease and is associated with reduced walking speed and falls. The aim of this randomised controlled trial is to determine whether the benefits of muscle power training on walking speed and balance demonstrated in the older general population can be gained by people with Parkinson’s disease. Muscle power training deliberately targets the fundamental problem of slowness of movement, making evaluation of the effect of this training an urgent research priority with potential to improve walking and balance in people with Parkinson's disease as well as provide insights into mechanisms underlying effects.
Interventions
Muscle power training of the leg extensors, knee flexors, hip flexors and hip abductors twice a week for 3 months. These exercises will be performed on Keiser pneumatic variable resistance equipment (Fresno, CA), specifically on the seated leg press, seated leg curl and standing hip machines. The training will comprise 3 sets of 8 repetitions, with training loads of 40% 1RM for the 1st set, 50% 1RM for the 2nd set and 60% 1RM for the 3rd set. When participants are able to perform 10 repetitions
Muscle power training of the leg extensors, knee flexors, hip flexors and hip abductors twice a week for 3 months. These exercises will be performed on Keiser pneumatic variable resistance equipment (Fresno, CA), specifically on the seated leg press, seated leg curl and standing hip machines. The training will comprise 3 sets of 8 repetitions, with training loads of 40% 1RM for the 1st set, 50% 1RM for the 2nd set and 60% 1RM for the 3rd set. When participants are able to perform 10 repetitions of the final set, their training load will be increased by 5% for the next training session. Participants will perform the concentric component of each exercise as fast as possible. Participants will train in pairs under full supervision of a physiotherapist in a university laboratory. Participants will take turns to complete each set, providing encouragement for their training partner while physically resting in order to maximise the benefits of observational learning. The entire session will last approximately 1 hour, commencing with a warm-up of 4 slow repetitions at 20% 1RM for each exercise, and cooling down by marching on the spot for up to 30 seconds after each exercise.
Sponsors
The University of Sydney
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Blinded (masking used) (Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
40 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
Diagnosis of idiopathic Parkinson’s disease. Living in the community. Able to walk 50 m independently with or without a walking aid. Stable PD medications for at least 2 weeks.
Exclusion criteria
Mini-mental state examination score < 24/30. Other degenerative neurological conditions, eg, multiple sclerosis. Unstable cardiovascular status.
Outcome results
None listed