More Evidence That Exercise Is Beneficial in Parkinson Disease

Treadmill exercise — especially lower-intensity, longer-duration exercise — improved gait, and stretching and resistance training improved strength.

To examine the effects of various forms of exercise on gait speed, strength, and fitness in patients with Parkinson disease (PD), researchers performed a prospective, single-blind trial. They randomized 67 patients to one of three exercise treatment arms, performed three times a week for 3 months: lower-intensity treadmill training, higher-intensity treadmill training, or stretching plus resistance exercises. Higher-intensity training sessions lasted 30 minutes, and patients had to achieve 70% to 80% of their heart-rate reserve. Lower-intensity training sessions lasted 50 minutes, but patients only had to reach 40% to 50% of their heart-rate reserve. The stretching and resistance exercises were low intensity and included use of three resist…

Reviewing Author

Michael S. Okun, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardParkinson’s Foundation; Tourette Association of America

Speaker’s BureauMedscape/WebMD CME, Movement Disorders Society CME, American Academy of Neurology CME

RoyaltiesBooks4Patients; Demos; Cambridge; Taylor and Francis; Robert Rose; Public Affairs

Grant/Research SupportNational Institutes of Health; Parkinson’s Foundation; Tourette Association of America; University of Florida Foundation

Editorial BoardsTremor and Other Hyperkinetic Movements; JAMA Neurology

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesParkinson’s Foundation (Medical Advisor)