The Effect of Resistance Training in Parkinson Disease: A Pilot Study
Condition: Parkinson Disease
MeSH terms: Parkinson Disease
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      To investigate if resistance training exercises performed twice a week with or without gym
      equipment assistance in a 12-week period could improve balance in patients with Parkinson
      Disease (PD).

      Methods: Sixty three patients with idiopathic PD (Hoehn and Yahr stage II - III) and
      preserved cognitive function will participate in this study. Patients will be randomized
      among three intervention groups: resistance training with free weights, resistance training
      with gym equipment and control group. Investigators will use static platform balance
      variables to assess the primary end-point outcome measures. For the secondary outcomes
      measures, most common clinical functional balances tests for PD will be applied: Berg Balance
      Scale (BBS), Mini-BESTest - Balance Evaluation (Mini-BESTest), Timed Up and Go test (TUG) and
      variables from dynamic posturography.
    

Detailed description: 
      Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects motor functions
      and is characterized by bradykinesia, resting tremor, rigidity, and postural instability.
      Despite of pharmacological treatments, patients remain with deficits in balance, gait,
      autonomic system functions and cognition which impact on their quality of life.

      The effects of resistance training on PD are still controversial when balance and improvement
      on functional tests are the targets.

      Since the results of previous studies about resistance training on balance are still
      controversial, more interventions are required to address the question if strengthening
      exercise may improve or not the balance of PD patients. Our exercises will target the trunk,
      leg and shoulder muscles because of their contribution on patient's posture.
    

Intervention name(s): Gym Group; Free Weights Group; Control Group
Intervention type(s): Other; Other; Other
Intervention description(s): Patients from Gym Group will perform a strengthening program of 45 minutes sessions, twice a week in a 12-week period.
The initial load is established as 60% of one-repetition maximum strength test (1RM) applied for each exercise at the beginning of program. Patients will be encouraged to perform 3 sets of 8 to 12 repetitions. All subjects will be instructed to rest for 30-60 second intervals between sets.; Patients from Free Weights Group will perform a strengthening program of 45 minutes sessions, twice a week in a 12-week period. The program aim to recruit the same muscles requested in Gym Group. Investigators will apply six different exercises with patients lying supine,standing in stance, sitting and in four points kneeling. All exercises aim to strengthen abdominal muscles, trunk extensors, gluteus, quadriceps and scapula adductors. Patients will perform 3 sets of 8 to 12 repetitions, the load will be offered with dumbbells, elastics with different resistances and anklets.; All three groups will be instructed to perform stretching exercises of trunk, leg and shoulder muscles, according to an illustrated booklet. Only the Control Group patients will be instructed to perform stretching exercises at home in the same 12-week period.
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single (Investigator)
Primary purpose: Treatment
Keywords: Resistance Training; Postural Balance; Exercise