Exercise and medication effects on persons with Parkinson disease across the domains of disability: a randomized clinical trial.
OBJECTIVE
Hypokinesia and bradykinesia as movement deficits of Parkinson disease are thought to be mediated by both basal ganglia dysfunction and a loss of muscle mass and strength commensurate with aging and decreased levels of physical activity. For these reasons, we sought to utilize resistance training as a means to increase muscle force and minimize hypokinesia and bradykinesia in persons with Parkinson disease and examine the effects of exercise and medication on Body Structure and Function (muscle force production and muscle cross-sectional area), Activity (mobility), and Participation (Health Status) outcomes.


METHODS
Forty-two participants were enrolled in a 12-week randomized clinical trial that compared 2 active exercise interventions: a standard care control group (Active Control) and an experimental group that underwent Resistance Exercise via Negative Eccentric Work (RENEW).


RESULTS
Participants in both groups improved in muscle force production and mobility as a result of exercise and medication (P < 0.02). There were no significant interaction or between-group differences and no significant changes in muscle cross-sectional area or health status were observed. Effect sizes for exercise and medication combined exceeded the effect sizes of either intervention in isolation.


CONCLUSIONS
Taken together, these results point to the complementary effects of exercise and medication on the Body Structure and Function and Activity outcomes but little effect on Participation outcomes.Video Abstract available for more insights from the authors (see Supplemental Digital Content 1, http://links.lww.com/JNPT/A92).
Department of Physical Therapy (L.E.D., K.B.F., R.L.M., P.C.L.), University of Utah, Salt Lake City; and Department of Medicine (O.A.), Division of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, and Veterans Affairs Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center and Research Development Service, Baltimore.
Leland E
LE
Dibble
K Bo
KB
Foreman
Odessa
O
Addison
Robin L
RL
Marcus
Paul C
PC
LaStayo
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018476:Hypokinesia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D055070:Resistance Training; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome