A Multifactorial Exercise Program to Reduce Falls in People With Parkinson Disease
Parkinson Disease
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Parkinson Disease focused on measuring Postural Instability (falling), Gait Disturbances (e.g., freezing), Bradykinesia (slowness of movement), rigidity
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- have a diagnosis of idiopathic Parkinson's disease (using UK Brain Bank Criteria)
- have a Hoehn & Yahr stage of 2-4 during the "ON" state
- Mini mental status score > 26
- be 40 years of age or older, so as to represent the typical age range of PD
- be on a stable dose of Parkinson's medications for at least 2 weeks prior to study onset and during the 3 month study period.
- have experienced at least one fall in the past 3 months and greater or equal to 2 falls in the past one-year (A fall was defined as an unexpected event where the person inadvertently came to rest on the ground or other lower level not due to a major intrinsic or extrinsic event)
- able to walk without physical assistance or an assistive device for at least 5 continuous minutes
- able to understand, communicate with and be understood by recruitment personnel
- able to attend the exercise program twice per week at Sargent College
- be interested in participating and provide informed consent
Exclusion Criteria:
- have a diagnosis of atypical Parkinsonism
- have a Hoehn & Yahr stage of 1 or 5
- have had previous surgical management of PD (i.e., deep brain stimulation surgery; pallidotomy)
- serious co-morbidities that may interfere with ability to participate in an exercise program (i.e., musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, and neurological (other than Parkinson's))
- be pregnant
Sites / Locations
- Center for Neurorehabilitation, College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences, Sargent College, Boston University
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Experimental
Experimental
Early Multi-Ex-PD
Late Multi-Ex-PD
Immediately following enrollment, subjects will participate in a group balance and strengthening program (Multi-Ex-PD) 2x/week for 90 minutes over 3 months within the Center for Neurorehabilitation at Sargent College. Each of the exercises consists of a progression which ranges from less challenging to more challenging. The program will be individualized to the subject to appropriately match their abilities. Each subject will be progressed to a more challenging exercise once specific criteria are met. Resistance for the strengthening exercises will be applied using weighted vests.
Three months after enrollment, subjects will participate in a group balance and strengthening program (Multi-Ex-PD) 2x/week for 90 minutes over 3 months within the Center for Neurorehabilitation at Sargent College. Each of the exercises consists of a progression which ranges from less challenging to more challenging. The program will be individualized to the subject to appropriately match their abilities. Each subject will be progressed to a more challenging exercise once specific criteria are met. Resistance for the strengthening exercises will be applied using weighted vests.