High-intensity Interval Circuit Training in People With Parkinson Disease (PD HIIT)

Comparison of High-intensity Interval Circuit Training With Upper Extremity and Lower Extremity Training Versus Lower Extremity Training Alone in People With Parkinson Disease

The goal of the study is to compare different types of high intensity circuit exercises over an 8-class training series in people with Parkinson disease. The main question it aims to answer is:

-Does including arm and hand exercises with leg exercises improve reaction time, balance, functional measures, gait speed and quality of life? This group will be compared to a group that only does leg exercises. Participants will be asked to participate in 8 high intensity circuit exercise classes.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Parkinson Disease
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: High intensity circuit exercise class - Lower and upper extremity; Other: High intensity circuit exercise class - Lower extremity alone

Detailed Description

People with Parkinson disease will be recruited from the community and randomized into 2 equal groups: high intensity interval circuit training with lower extremity (LE) and lower and upper extremity (LEUE) training. The study will be composed of a baseline assessment, 8 group class sessions, and a post-intervention assessment. The baseline assessment will include demographics, disease and fall history and outcome measure collection. Group class sessions will include concurrent group warmup, followed by an 8-station circuit performed with high intensity intervals, and a cool-down. The circuit will include 4 stations performed by both the LE and LEUE groups and 4 stations specific to each intervention group, including 4 additional LE exercise stations for the LE group and 4 UE specific stations for the LEUE group. The stations that differ will not be adjacent to one another nor specifically indicated as different. The stations that differ will mirror similar aspects of function (ie, strength, reaction time, etc.) for the UE and LE stations. Participants will be told exercise stations may vary within-session and week to week but will not be informed that only one group has UE exercise interventions. After conclusion of the class series, post-intervention balance and stepping outcomes will be reassessed.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 64
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Washington
    • Yakima, Washington, United States, 98901
      • Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child; Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• diagnosis of Parkinson's disease
• Hoehn and Yahr level of 1 to 3
• ability to walk independently with or without an assistive device
• obtain medical clearance to participate in moderate or vigorous exercise.

Exclusion Criteria:

• diagnosis of any neurological disease other than PD (including but not limited to stroke, dementia, and multiple sclerosis; mild cognitive impairment is not excluded)
• bone instability (non-consolidated fractures, unstable spinal column, severe osteoporosis)
• muscle or ligament tears
• uncontrolled hypertension
• uncontrolled diabetes
• severe cardiovascular disease that impairs walking or exercise
• a major change in medication during the study training period (pre-test to post-test)

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Lower extremity and upper extremity exercise; Exercises in the circuit (8 total) will focus on the lower extremity (4) and upper extremity (4)	Other: High intensity circuit exercise class - Lower and upper extremity; Exercises performed at high intensity effort in the circuit (8 total) will focus on both the lower extremity (4) and upper extremity (4)
Active Comparator: Lower extremity exercise; Exercises in the circuit (8 total) will focus on the lower extremity (4) alone.	Other: High intensity circuit exercise class - Lower extremity alone; All exercises performed at high intensity effort in the circuit (8 total) will focus on the lower extremity alone

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Trail making Test Parts A and B (timed, higher scores mean worse outcome)	Cognitive and fine motor skills	8-10 weeks
Activity-specific Balance Confidence Scale (0-100%, higher scores mean better outcome)	Balance confidence self-report	8-10 weeks
Timed Up and Go	Balance and function	8-10 weeks
10 meter Walk Test	Gait Speed	8-10 weeks
6 minute walk test	endurance	8-10 weeks
9-hole peg test (timed, higher scores mean worse outcome)	fine motor	8-10 weeks
Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire - Short Form (8) (Score 0-32, higher scores mean worse outcome)	Quality of Life	8-10 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Tiffany B Salido, DPT, PhD, Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): February 15, 2024
• Primary Completion (Actual): November 30, 2025
• Study Completion (Actual): November 30, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 12, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 26, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): August 29, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 27, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 24, 2026
• Last Verified: March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: exercise
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Synucleinopathies; Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Neurodegenerative Diseases; Movement Disorders; Parkinsonian Disorders; Basal Ganglia Diseases; Behavior; Parkinson Disease; Motor Activity
• Other Study ID Numbers: 24-003

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No