title: Interval training-induced alleviation of rigidity and hypertonia in patients with Parkinson's disease is accompanied by increased basal serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the effects of cycloergometric interval training on parkinsonian rigidity, relaxed biceps brachii muscle tone in affected upper extremities, and serum level of brain-derived neurotrophic factor.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case series, repeated-measures design, pilot study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eleven patients with mild-to-moderate Parkinson's disease (Hoehn & Yahr scale 2.3 ± 0.72), recruited from a neurological clinic, underwent cycle training and were tested along with non-trained, healthy control subjects (n = 11) in a motor control laboratory.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients underwent 8 weeks of interval training (3 × 1-h sessions weekly, consisting of a 10-min warm-up, 40 min of interval exercise, and 10-min cool-down) on a stationary cycloergometer. Parkinsonian rigidity (Unified Parkinson's Disease-Rating-Scale) in the upper extremity, resting biceps brachii muscle tone (myometric stiffness and frequency), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor level were measured 1-3 days before interval training cycle started and 6-10 days after the last training session.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Training resulted in a decrease in rigidity (p = 0.048) and biceps brachii myometric muscle stiffness (p = 0.030) and frequency (p = 0.006), and an increase in the level of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (p = 0.035) relative to pre-training values. The increase in brain-derived neurotrophic factor level correlated with improvements in parkinsonian rigidity (p = 0.025), biceps brachii myometric stiffness (p = 0.001) and frequency (p = 0.002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Training-induced alleviation of parkinsonian rigidity and muscle tone decrease may be associated with neuroplastic changes caused by a training-induced increase in the level of brain-derived neurotrophic factor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology, Faculty of Physiotherapy, University School of Physical Education in Wroclaw, 51-612 Wroclaw, Poland. jarekmarusiak@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jarosław
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Marusiak
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Żeligowska
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mencel
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kisiel-Sajewicz
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Majerczak
authors.forename: Jerzy A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Zoladz
authors.forename: Artur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jaskólski
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jaskólska
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009122:Muscle Hypertonia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D009127:Muscle Rigidity / Q000378:metabolism / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010865:Pilot Projects
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; C579455:BDNF protein, human