Study of Tai Chi Exercise and Balance in Persons With Parkinson's Disease

Phase 2

Completed

• Conditions: Parkinson's Disease
• Interventions: Behavioral: Tai Chi; Behavioral: Strength training; Behavioral: Low-Impact Exercise Control

• Registration Number: NCT00611481
• Lead Sponsor: Oregon Research Institute

Brief Summary

Patients practicing Tai Chi will exhibit significant improvements in primary outcome measures of balance, and secondary outcomes of gait, physical performance, Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale, Falls, muscle strength.

Detailed Description

The study is designed to determine the effects of Tai Chi training on balance and other functional outcomes in persons with Parkinson's disease.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2008-02-06
• Study First Submitted QC: 2008-02-06
• Study First Posted: 2008-02-11
• Study Start: 2008-10
• Primary Completion: 2011-05
• Study Completion: 2011-08
• Status Verified: 2011-10
• Last Update Submitted: 2011-10-10
• Last Update Posted: 2011-10-12

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 195

Inclusion Criteria

Patients who have:

• A diagnosis of idiopathic PD, with a disease severity rating of stage I to IV on the Hoehn and Yahr scale (Hoehn & Yahr, 1967)
• At least 1 score of 2 or more for at least 1 limb for either the tremor, rigidity, or bradykinesia item of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS)
• Stable medication usage
• Not participated in a structured exercise program (i.e., not involved in any routine, organized physical activity program lasting 30 minutes or more per day, such as a gym program or regularly scheduled instructor-led exercise class) in the previous 2 months
• Ability to stand unaided or walk independently; had a personal physician's or neurologist's clearance for participation; and had a willingness to be assigned to intervention conditions.

Exclusion Criteria

Patients who:

• Participate in any other behavioral or pharmacological research study
• Have cognitive decline (Mini-Mental State Examination score, ≤ 24) (Folstein et al., 1975)
• Have self-reported diagnosis of Alzheimer disease or other severe neurological (stage III and IV PD)
• Have evidence of progressive or debilitating conditions (metastatic cancer, severe heart or lung disease, crippling arthritis) or severe losses in vision and hearing that would limit their tolerance to testing and training procedures, that would interfere with study participation
• Are unavailable during the study period.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Tai Chi	Tai Chi	-
B. Strength training	Strength training	-
C. Low-Impact	Low-Impact Exercise Control	-

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Balance	3 time points

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
gait, physical performance, Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale, falls, Muscle strength	3 time points

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Oregon Research Institute; 🇺🇸 Eugene, Oregon, United States