Is a high intensity exercise intervention for people with Parkinson's disease feasible?
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN75458559 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN75458559 |
| Protocol serial number | 20046 |
| Sponsor | Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust |
| Funder | National Institute for Health Research |
- Submission date
- 10/02/2016
- Registration date
- 11/02/2016
- Last edited
- 21/03/2016
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Nervous System Diseases
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a long-term medical condition which is caused by the gradual loss of nerve cells (neurons) in a part of the brain called the substantia nigra. These neurons are normally responsible for producing dopamine, a chemical messenger (neurotransmitter) which carries signals around the brain that help to coordinate movement. In people suffering from PD, these neurons gradually die over time, causing the level of dopamine in the brain to gradually fall. As the levels of dopamine become lower, the brain is unable to coordinate movement as effectively, causing abnormal movements such as stiffness, tremor (uncontrollable shaking) and slowness of movement (bradykinesia). These symptoms are treated using medications, the dosage of which is continually increased as the disease progresses (worsens). There is evidence to suggest that exercise programs can help to improve walking ability and balance in people with PD. It has been found however that this does not really work in the long-run, possibly because standard gym equipment is not specifically designed for PD sufferers and their worsening symptoms can make it difficult to use. Another reason may be that PD sufferers may not be able to exercise at an optimal intensity as their disability worsens. The Speedflex system is a new exercise training system which is designed to ensure that anyone can get the maximum benefit from their exercise sessions. Speedflex exercise machines automatically respond to and creates resistance levels based on the how hard a person is working, ensuring that exercise sessions are high-intensity but low impact (easy on the body). The aim of this study is to find out whether it is possible for people with PD to exercise at high-intensity using the Speedflex system, and what the benefits are in terms of fitness and quality of life
Who can participate?
Adults with idiopathic (unknown cause) PD who are physically independent.
What does the study involve?
Participants are randomly allocated to one of two groups. Those in group one begin the high-intensity exercise programme immediately. This involves circuit training using a piece of exercise equipment (the Speedflex system), in three one-hour sessions over a period of six weeks. The Speedflex system is a fixed piece of gym equipment which can be used in a standing or seated position and avoids many of the problems people with PD report (e.g. falls, feeling unsafe) in using convention gym equipment such as treadmills, cross trainers and static bicycles. Those in group two start the same exercise programme six weeks after group one. Participants in group one complete a number of questionnaires as well as fitness and breathing tests, in order to find out how effective the exercise is at the start of the study and then again after the exercise and six weeks later. Participants in group two complete the same tests and questionnaires at the start of the study, after group one have done their exercise, and again after they have done their exercise and six weeks later.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Participants may benefit from an improved ability to manage their symptoms and possibly slow down the progression (worsening) of the disease. Risks of taking part are small, however some participants may find the exercise tiring.
Where is the study run from?
North Tyneside General Hospital (UK)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
September 2015 to September 2017
Who is funding the study?
National Institute for Health Research (UK)
Who is the main contact?
Professor William Gray
Contact information
Scientific
North Tyneside General Hospital
Rake Lane
North Shields
NE29 8NH
United Kingdom
Study information
| Primary study design | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Study design | Single-centre stepped wedge feasibility study |
| Secondary study design | Randomised controlled trial |
| Study type | Participant information sheet |
| Scientific title | Can people with Parkinson's disease exercise at high intensity and, if so, what are the benefits? A feasibility study |
| Study objectives | The aim of this study is to investigate whether it is possible for people with Parkinson's disease (PD) to exercise at high-intensity and, if they can, what are the benefits in terms of fitness and quality of life. |
| Ethics approval(s) | North East - Newcastle & North Tyneside 2 Research Ethics Committee, 05/10/2015, ref: 15/NE/0257 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Topic: Neurological disorders; Subtopic: Neurological (all Subtopics); Disease: Nervous system disorders, Parkinson's disease |
| Intervention | Participants will be randomly allocated to either group 1 (immediate start intervention) or group 2 (delayed start to intervention), with stratification to ensure groups are broadly matched for age and sex. Randomisation will be done post baseline assessment by a statistician blinded to assessment results and clinical characteristics. Group 1 will exercise in circuits at high-intensity using a piece of exercise equipment (the Speedflex system) which we feel is ideally suited to attaining the maximal exercise capacity of people with PD. The intervention will comprise three, hour-long, exercise sessions per week for 12 weeks. The Speedlflex system is a fixed piece of gym equipment which can be used in a standing or seated position and avoids many of the problems people with PD report (e.g. falls, feeling unsafe) in using convention gym equipment such as treadmills, cross trainers and static bicycles. During the exercise intervention for group 1, group 2 subjects will have no specific intervention and will be managed by the NHS Trust PD service as clinically indicated. At the end of the group 1 intervention period, all subjects will be re-assessed and group 2 will then start the exercise intervention as for group 1, followed by post exercise intervention. All subjects will be further assessed at 6 weeks post intervention. Thus, group 1 will have 3 assessments (baseline, post-exercise and 6 week follow-up) and group 2 will have 4 assessments (baseline, end of group 1 exercise, post-exercise and 6 week follow-up). |
| Intervention type | Other |
| Primary outcome measure(s) |
Greater than 85% of predicted maximal heart rate achieved during each exercise session in over 50% of patients as determined using a heart rate monitor worn around the chest at baseline, post exercise and 6 weeks for group one, and at baseline, end of group 1 exercise, post-exercise and 6 week follow-up for group two. |
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) |
Group 1 will have 3 assessments (baseline, post-exercise and 6 week follow-up) and group 2 will have 4 assessments (baseline, end of group 1 exercise, post-exercise and 6 week follow-up). |
| Completion date | 31/03/2017 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Patient |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Lower age limit | 18 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Target sample size at registration | 24 |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. Aged 18 years or over 2. Idiopathic Parkinson’s disease by the UK PD Society Brain Bank Criteria 3. Hoehn and Yahr Stage IIII 4. Ability to provide written informed consent |
| Key exclusion criteria | 1. Have been enrolled in a study of an exercise intervention in the last 12 months 2. Other forms of Parkinsonism, e.g. drug induced, 3. Significant medical conditions which would preclude cardiac or lung function testing, 4. Significant medical comorbidity which would preclude exercise or cardiac and lung function testing (e.g. recent blood clot, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism or myocardial infarction, unstable cardiac or respiratory function, recent major surgery) |
| Date of first enrolment | 15/02/2016 |
| Date of final enrolment | 01/05/2016 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- United Kingdom
- England
Study participating centre
Rake Lane
North Shields
NE29 8NH
United Kingdom
Results and Publications
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | Yes |
|---|---|
| IPD sharing plan summary | Available on request |
| IPD sharing plan |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HRA research summary | 28/06/2023 | No | No | ||
| Participant information sheet | Participant information sheet | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
