Sensory Attention Focused Exercise in Parkinson's Disease
- Conditions
- Parkinson's Disease
- Interventions
- Other: Sensory Attention Focused Exercise (SAFEx)
- Registration Number
- NCT01246700
- Lead Sponsor
- Sun Life Financial Movement Disorders Research and Rehabilitation Centre
- 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.
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- UNKNOWN
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 76
- diagnosis of PD by a clinician/neurologist
- absence of mentation
- established medication schedule and dosage
- 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
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- CROSSOVER
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description Group A Sensory Attention Focused Exercise (SAFEx) Participants received 12 weeks of Sensory Attention Focused Exercise, then received 12 weeks of no exercise. Group B Sensory Attention Focused Exercise (SAFEx) Participants received no treatment for 12 weeks, then received Sensory Attention Focused Exercise for 12 weeks.
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method 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 Outcome Measures
Name Time Method 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.
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.
Step Length Baseline, 12 weeks and 24 weeks Measured using GAITRite software.
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.
Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
Sun Life Financial Movement Disorders Research and Rehabilitation Centre
🇨🇦Waterloo, Ontario, Canada