Exercise to Treat Parkinson Disease

Aerobic exercise has been correlated with improved morbidity and mortality. These researchers have attempted to examine the potential benefit of two 6-month, aerobic-exercise regimens in 60 patients with Parkinson disease (PD; mean age, 65, 68% men).

The exercise program was walking 3 times per week, with session duration increasing in the first 6 weeks from 15 to 45 minutes. The original study aim was to compare interval with continuous training, but because data showed safety issues with interval training, this arm was discontinued, with later participants assigned to continuous training (goal, 70%–80% of heart rate maximum). With no baseline or outcome differences between the groups, data were pooled. Forty-nine patients (82%) completed t…