Parkinson's Disease
Conditions
Keywords
Parkinson's disease, Randomized single-blind crossover trial, Sensory Attention Focused Exercise
Brief summary
The purpose of this study is 1.) to determine if sensory attention focused exercise is an effective management strategy for Parkinson's disease, and 2.) to identify if the benefits are a result of strength gains.
Detailed description
Currently, there is no cure for Parkinson's disease (PD) and although medication offers symptom reduction, there are many negative side effects associated with medication use. Thus, there has been an increased emphasis on exercise interventions for symptom reduction. Recent research has shown that both sensory attention focused exercise (SAFEx) and strength training interventions improved disease severity more so than other exercise interventions (such as aerobic, aquatic and no exercise). Upon closer examination, SAFEx showed further symptom improvements than the strength training program. Thus exists the need to further examine SAFEx using a standardized protocol - a single-blind randomized double-crossover trial - that has been used sparingly in exercise interventions. In addition, the 30-second chair stand has been implemented into the testing protocol, as it has been shown to be a reliable measurement of functional strength for older adults. This test was implemented in order to identify the functional strength gains, if any, that are associated with SAFEx. It is hypothesized that the SAFEx intervention will improve disease symptoms in PD, and that the results will not be due to strength gains.
Interventions
OTHERSensory Attention Focused Exercise (SAFEx)
Consisted of 12 weeks for SAFEx intervention, 3 times a week for an hour each session. Participants complete dynamic balance activities and a variety of seated stretches and range of motion activities. Participants are cued to focus on sensation and proprioception of limbs. Group A received SAFEx for 12 weeks then received no treatment for 12 weeks.
Sponsors
Canada, Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA)
Parkinson Society Canada
Canada, Sun Life Financial
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
Sun Life Financial Movement Disorders Research and Rehabilitation Centre
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* diagnosis of PD by a clinician/neurologist * absence of mentation * established medication schedule and dosage
Exclusion criteria
* mentation * change in medication during period of study * change in exercise level during period of study * inability to complete the exercise program * absence of 5 or more classes, or absence of 3 or more classes in sequence
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) III (motor score) | Baseline, 12 weeks and 24 weeks | Assessment of patient's disease severity, completed by a blinded certified clinician. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 30 second chair stand | Baseline, 12 weeks and 24 weeks | Participants instructed to stand from a seated position as many times as possible in 30 seconds. Number of completed stands is recorded. |
| Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) - I and II (self report of mentation, depression, and activities of daily living). | Baseline, 12 weeks and 24 weeks | Participants complete a self-report questionnaire, and rank how they are feeling. |
| Grooved Pegboard | Baseline, 12 weeks and 24 weeks | Participants must place and remove 25 pegs as fast as possible using a standard Grooved Pegboard. Participants are timed. |
| Timed up and go | Baseline, 12 weeks and 24 weeks | Participants stand out of a chair, walk 3 meters, turn around and sit back down. This task is timed. |
| Velocity | Baseline, 12 weeks and 24 weeks | Assessed using GAITRite software. |
| Step to Step Length Variability | Baseline, 12 weeks and 24 weeks | Assessed using GAITRite software. |
| Step Length | Baseline, 12 weeks and 24 weeks | Measured using GAITRite software. |
Countries
Canada
Outcome results
None listed