High-intensity Exercise and Fall Prevention Boot Camp for Parkinson's Disease

Several animal and human epidemiologic studies have provided evidence that exercise may be neuroprotective in Parkinson's disease (PD). Exercise may forestall diagnosis and, in the case of those who have already been diagnosed with PD, it may slow the observed neurodegeneration. Unfortunately, because this line of research is in early stages, there is little evidence to indicate what biological mechanisms underlie the neuroprotection that is conferred with exercise. Toward this end, it is possible that an interaction between endogenous antioxidant enzymes, inflammatory processes, and reactive oxygen species may be associated with exercise improvements in PD.

One of the most common reasons for premature death in PD is falls. Several meta-analyses have concluded that exercise training programs focused on balance and/or strength training are effective at improving aspects of balance. Taken together, the current body of evidence suggests that exercise may be neuroprotective and balance/strength training may decrease the likelihood of a fall. The combination of these efficacious treatment modalities (exercise and balance/strength training) in a comprehensive treatment approach to improve PD symptoms and balance has been previously reported at relatively mild or moderate exercise intensities. Because recent research has suggested that patients with PD may benefit more from more physically intense programs, we are proposing a more aggressive approach with regard to exercise intensity and frequency in the present trial. The primary purpose of this study is to determine the feasibility and safety of a high intensity exercise approach to PD. A secondary purpose is to determine the trajectory of change in outcomes over the duration of the trial from a high intensity fall prevention program. It is hoped that a signal of efficacy will allow this trial to progress to a comparative effectiveness trial. An important innovative design element is collecting biological assays to better understand the mechanism underlying the anticipated clinical improvements.

Aim 1 is to test the feasibility of a high-intensity exercise and fall prevention boot camp (HIBC) in patients with PD by analyzing adherence and whether they achieve minimum Centers for Disease Control exercise standards (150 min/wk moderate level aerobic exercise; strengthening at least two times per week) for the duration of the trial. Aim 2 is to determine if participation in an 8-week HIBC under the direction of a physical therapist is safe for individuals with PD. Secondary Aim 3 is to determine if participation in an 8-week HIBC will produce a signal of efficacy for several physical outcomes: falls per physical activity ratio, balance efficacy, motor activity, fatigue, muscle strength, bone health, cognition/mood, and quality of life. Secondary Aim 4 is to determine if participation in an 8-week HIBC will produce a signal of efficacy for biological outcomes, anti-inflammatory cytokines and anti-oxidant enzymes. An additional exploratory aim will be an analysis of BDNF val66val, val66met, met66met polymorphisms to determine if there is a differential response to exercise.

This trial is innovative because it utilizes a high intensity comprehensive exercise treatment approach (aerobic exercise, strengthening, and balance training). To our knowledge, there have been no trials of individuals with PD who have participated in a trial of this intensity in a group "boot camp" setting. Another innovative design element is the use of three novel assessments: biological assays of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, endogenous anti-oxidant enzymes and a novel assessment of falls (falls per physical activity ratio).

Participants will be randomly assigned into either an 8-week HIBC group or an 8-week usual care control group (standard, low intensity group therapy class) under the direction of physical therapists. Each group will have 15 participants with a 1:5 patient-to-therapist ratio. The HIBC will be 1.5 hours daily, Monday through Friday. Participants will be required to attend 3 out of the 5 days. The protocol of the HIBC will include the following exercise components: A. 30 minutes of moderate-high intensity aerobic exercise; B. 15 minutes of strengthening the major muscle groups; C. 15 minutes of balance training; and, D. 15 minutes of interspersed rest and stretching. Participants will rotate through these four exercise components. Participants will have one baseline test and assessments at the 2-week, 4 week, 8-week, and 6-month points. Outcomes of the primary aims (Aim 1 and Aim 2) will be frequency counts of participation, adverse events, and compliance with exercise. The outcomes for the secondary aims will include measures of balance and falls, physical capacity, fatigue, exercise/physical activity behavior, and biological assays.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Parkinson's Disease
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: High intensity exercise and balance training; Other: Usual care arm exercise

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 27
• Phase: Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Nevada
    • Las Vegas, Nevada, United States, 89154
      • University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 45 years to 85 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Neurologist-diagnosed idiopathic PD based on the UK PD brain bank criteria
• Aged 45-85
• Hoehn and Yahr stages 1-3 (mild to moderate PD)
• Participants do not anticipate a change in medication or surgical procedures in the next 8 months of the trial (2 months for the trial and 6 for the follow-up)
• Clearance from primary care physician to participate in the trial
• Must be stable on PD medication and DBS for 3 months prior to trial

Exclusion Criteria:

• Poorly controlled or unstable cardiovascular disease that precludes participation in exercise
• Moderate-to-severe dementia using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). We will exclude participants with a MoCA cut off score of <26/30. This cut off value has excellent sensitivity (90%) and specificity (75%).
• Inability to stand or walk for more than 10 minutes
• Other significant disorders that would limit endurance exercise participation (i.e., osteoarthritis, stroke, respiratory problems, traumatic brain injury, neuromuscular disease, pain)
• Already participating in a regular, vigorous exercise program (3X/week or more of >60% estimated maximum heart rate)
• Participants will be excluded from the trial if they are taking any medications that interfere with heart rate response to exercise

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Quadruple

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: High intensity boot camp; Each of the two HIBCs will have 10 participants (20 total) with a 1:5 physical therapist-to-patient ratio. Each HIBC session will last 1.5 hours and will be held on 4 days of the week. Participants will be required to attend 3 of those 4 days but may attend all. Because this is a pragmatic trial, therapists will have some leeway to control the intensity and the modality of the exercise. However, the basic format of the HIBC will consist of the following exercise components: A. 30 minutes of moderate-high intensity aerobic exercise at 70%+ of estimated maximum heart rate; B. 15 minutes of strengthening the major muscle groups of the trunk and upper/lower extremities; C. 15 minutes of balance training; and, D. 15 minutes of rest and stretching. Participants will rotate through these four different exercise components in a circuit fashion.	Other: High intensity exercise and balance training; Other Names: A. 30 minutes of moderate-high intensity aerobic exercise at 70%+ of estimated maximum heart rate; B. 15 minutes of strengthening the major muscle groups of the trunk and upper/lower extremities; C. 15 minutes of balance training; D. 15 minutes of rest and stretching
Active Comparator: Usual care arm; The low intensity exercise group will participate in the Fitness Counts Exercise Program (FCEP) which is a basic low intensity, sitting and standing exercise program (10 minutes of stretching, 10 minutes of aerobic exercise (60% of heart rate maximum), and 10 minutes of strengthening). This exercise program was developed by the National Parkinson Foundation and is commonly used in PD exercise classes. The physical therapist-to-patient ratio will be 1:5. As there are two clinical sites, there will be 10 participants in each of the two boot camps (20 total). The FCEP will be 1 hour daily on four days of the week. Participants will be required to attend 3 days per week but may attend more if they are able.	Other: Usual care arm exercise; Other Names: 10 minutes of stretching; 10 minutes of aerobic exercise (60% of heart rate maximum); 10 minutes of strengthening

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Frequency feasibility	The number of participants that attend and participate in the treatment at least 3 times per week for 8 weeks.	After completion of the 8 week trial
Aerobic feasibility	The number of participants that complete at least 150 minutes per week of moderate intensity exercise (70%+ of their estimated HR maximum). This will be ascertained using heart rate monitors.	At the end of the 8 week trial
Strength feasibility	The number of participants that participate in strengthening exercises that incorporates all the major muscle groups at least two days per week.	At the end of the 8 week trial
Compliance	Drop-out rate and reason for drop-out will be tracked.	At the end of the 8 week trial
Safety	Exercise-related adverse events (e.g., strains/sprains, cardiovascular events).	Ongoing throughout the 8 week trial
Motivation	The Intrinsic Motivation Inventory (IMI) will be used to gather information about motivation.	At 8 weeks
Falls	Falls and fall injuries in and out of boot camp will be collected.	At the end of the 8 week trial

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Falls	Falls will be tracked for 6 months after the boot camp using a falls diary. A member of the research team will call each month to interview participants about their falls. We will assess falls/fall injuries per physical activity ratio during the 6 month period following the trial and time to a fall/fall injury after the trial.	up to 6 months
Motor activity	Physical activity will be assessed using the Physical Activity Monitoring System (PAMsys).	up to 6 months
Fatigue	Fatigue will be assessed using the Parkinson Fatigue Scale (PFS).	up to 6 months
Strength	This will be assessed functionally using the 30 second Sit-To-Stand Test (30STS) for muscle strength.	up to 6 months
Cognition	Cognition will be assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA).	up to 6 months
Quality of life	This will be assessed by using a measure of disease-specific quality of life (Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire-39 (PDQ39)).	up to 6 months
Long term behavioral change	All participants will track their participation in exercise and physical activity using an exercise diary for 6 months following the boot camp. Participants will be called monthly to reinforce completion of the exercise diary.	up to 6 months
mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test (mini-BESTest)	Performance-based balance tasks.	up to 6 months
Falls self-efficacy	Activities Specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABC)	up to 6 months
Fall Efficacy	Self-report measurement tool: Falls Efficacy Scale (FES)	Up to 6 months
Fall catastrophization	Self-report of fall catastrophization: Catastrophization about Falls Questionnaire (CAFS)	Up to 6 months
Physical activity	Self-report measure physical activity: International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ)	Up to 6 months
Motor symptoms	Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale motor subscale (UDPRS III)	Up to 6 months
Fear of falling	Self-report scale of avoidance behavior due to a fear of falling: Fear of Falls Avoidance Behavior Questionnaire (FFABQ)	Up to 6 months
Endurance	Endurance will be assessed using the 6 Minute Walk Test (6MWT).	Up to 6 months
bone health	Bone health will be measured using bone mineral densiometry (BMD).	up to 6 months
Mood	Mood will be measured using the Beck Depression Inventory.	up to 6 months
Catalase	Catalase concentrations from blood will be quantified utilizing enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.	Up to 6 months
Cytokines	Cytokine (TNFα, IL-6, IL-10) concentrations from blood will be quantified utilizing enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.	Up to 6 months

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
BDNF	Circulating BDNF concentrations from blood will be quantified utilizing enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.	up to 6 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Nevada, Las Vegas
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Merrill Landers, PT, DPT, PhD, UNLV

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: August 1, 2014
• Primary Completion (Actual): October 1, 2015
• Study Completion (Actual): December 1, 2015

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: August 27, 2014
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 29, 2014
• First Posted (Estimate): September 3, 2014

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): May 12, 2016
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 10, 2016
• Last Verified: May 1, 2016

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: exercise; strength training; balance training; falling; fall prevention; boot camp
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Parkinsonian Disorders; Basal Ganglia Diseases; Movement Disorders; Synucleinopathies; Neurodegenerative Diseases; Parkinson Disease
• Other Study ID Numbers: CTR-IN UNLVPT 2014.01