Effects of a High-intensity Progressive-cycle Program on Quality of Life and Motor Symptomatology in Parkinson's Disease

TITLE: Effects of a high‐intensity progressive‐cycle program on quality of life and motor symptomatology in Parkinson's disease population BACKGROUND: The benefits of aerobic exercise in persons with Parkinson's disease (PD) have been widely studied; however, little research has been done on the effect of high‐intensity aerobic exercise in this group. HYPOTHESIS: The high‐intensity aerobic training in pedaliers, combined with balance training, improves motor symptoms and quality of life in a population with Parkinson Disease, Hoehn & Yahr 1‐3. OBJETIVES: To ascertain whether high‐intensity aerobic training with exercise peddlers and balance training can improve motor symptoms and quality of life in a PD population of Hoehn &Yahr (H&Y) disability score 1‐3. METHODOLOGY Setting: Rehabilitation centers in secondary care. Design: A pilot randomized controlled trial. Participants: A total of 14 patients participated in the 8‐week study. Interventions: They were comprised of a control group (n=7) that followed a balance protocol and an experimental group (n=7) that performed high intensity (70%) aerobic workout using an exercise peddler + a balance protocol once a week. Main Outcome Measures: The primary outcome measures included the 8‐Foot Up and Go, test, 6‐minute walk test, test 2‐minute step tets, Parkinson Disease Questionnaire‐39 (PDQ39), Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS‐UPDRS) and Tinetti test.