Exercise Training in Dystonia
Dystonia
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Dystonia
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
Patients with dystonia and other involuntary movement disorders will be recruited whose diagnosis will be confirmed by a Movement Disorders specialist following the criteria recommended by movement disorders society.
- Patients will be eligible if they are ages 30 to 80 years,
- Receive stable doses of regular botulinum toxin injections and are on stable doses of oral pharmacological therapy if applicable, and are able to walk for 6 minutes.
- Age-matched healthy individuals will be recruited for normative data.
- All individuals must be capable of providing informed consent and complying with the study related procedures.
Exclusion Criteria:
Patients will be ineligible if they have a neurological history other than dystonia, have significant arthritis
- Fail the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire, have cognitive impairment as indicated by a Mini Mental State Examination score <23,
- Already exercising.
- As necessitated by the risks of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) or transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), patients who have any type of implanted electrical device (such as a cardiac pacemaker or a neurostimulator), or a certain type of metallic clip in their body (i.e., an aneurysm clip in the brain)
- Active seizure disorder are not eligible for participation in the MRI or TMS portion of the study.
- Individuals who are claustrophobic will also be excluded from participation.
- Women who are or might be pregnant and nursing mothers are not eligible. Pregnancy tests will be carried out for each female subject of child bearing potential prior to the participation in the study and prior to each follow up visit.
Sites / Locations
- University of Florida
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Experimental
No Intervention
Progressive Resistance Training
Control Arm
Participants assigned to this arm will receive progressive resistance training under the supervision of a personal trainer at a gym facility close to their home. They will be required to perform these exercises twice a week for the first six months. They will be monitored with an activity monitor.
The control arm offered to subjects with dystonia and other involuntary muscle disorders, participants will be followed at baseline and 6 months similar to what will be done in active exercise arm but this arm will not receive exercise. They will be monitored with an activity monitor.