Effects of Resistance and Aerobic Exercises on Walking and Sarcopenic Parameters in Parkinson's Disease

Ahi Evran University Education and Research Hospital

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Sarcopenia; PARKINSON DISEASE (Disorder)

Treatments: Behavioral: Resistance Exercise; Behavioral: Aerobic Exercise; Behavioral: Conventional Rehabilitation

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07165106

AhiEvranUERH-FTR-NST-01

Details and patient eligibility

About

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of resistance and aerobic exercises on the following outcomes in patients with sarcopenic Parkinson's disease: Timed Up and Go Test (TUG), gait speed, Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), handgrip strength, Five-Times Sit-to-Stand Test, and MDS-UPDRS Part II scores.

Full description

Female and male patients aged between 40 and 85 years, who meet the inclusion criteria, will be recruited from the Outpatient Clinic of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PMR), Ahi Evran University Kırşehir Training and Research Hospital. A total of 30 participants will be enrolled in the study.

This is a prospective, randomized, controlled trial. Assessments will be performed at baseline (week 0), at the end of treatment (week 6), and at follow-up (week 12). Outcome measures will include:

Handgrip strength Timed Up and Go Test (TUG) 4-meter gait speed test Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) Five-Times Sit-to-Stand Test (5CST) MDS-UPDRS Part II questionnaire

In addition, at baseline, ultrasonographic measurement of anterior thigh muscle thickness will be performed. This value, expressed in millimeters, will be divided by the body mass index (BMI) to calculate the STAR (Sonographic Thigh Adjustment Ratio) index.Participants will be randomized into three treatment groups:

Group 3 (Conventional Rehabilitation Program):

Patients will receive a standard physical therapy program, 5 days per week, for 1 hour per session. The protocol will include range of motion exercises for upper and lower extremities, stretching, walking, balance and coordination training, proprioceptive exercises, postural exercises, obstacle negotiation training, and turning-in-place exercises.

Group 2 (Conventional Rehabilitation + Resistance Training):

In addition to the conventional program, patients will perform resistance exercises for major muscle groups of the upper and lower extremities using elastic resistance bands, 3 days per week.

Group 1 (Conventional Rehabilitation + Treadmill Training):

In addition to the conventional program, patients will undergo treadmill exercise consisting of a 5-minute warm-up, 15 minutes of main exercise, and 5 minutes of cool-down. Walking speed will be individually adjusted according to participant tolerance, and exercise intensity will be monitored using the Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) scale. Treadmill speed will be progressively increased in subsequent sessions under controlled conditions.

Enrollment: 30 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 40 to 85 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Male and female patients aged 40-85 years with a clinical diagnosis of Parkinson's disease.
• Diagnosis of sarcopenia according to the EWGSOP2 criteria.
• Hoehn & Yahr stage 2-3.
• Ability and willingness to provide written informed consent according to the approved study consent form.

Exclusion criteria

• Failure to meet diagnostic criteria for sarcopenia.
• Hoehn & Yahr stage 1 or 4.
• History of malignancy.
• Epilepsy.
• History of cardiac pacemaker implantation.
• Presence of congestive heart failure.
• Orthopedic conditions affecting walking or balance.
• Respiratory disorders impairing exercise capacity.
• Uncontrolled hypertension.
• Inability to cooperate with study procedures.
• History of neuromuscular or vestibular disorders affecting gait or balance parameters.
• Lack of willingness to participate in the study.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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30 participants in 3 patient groups

Conventional rehabilitation + Aerobic exercise

Experimental group

Description:

Participants will receive a standard conventional rehabilitation program combined with supervised aerobic exercise training (e.g., treadmill ) according to guideline-based frequency, intensity, and duration.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Conventional Rehabilitation

Behavioral: Aerobic Exercise

Conventional rehabilitation + Resistance exercises

Experimental group

Description:

Participants will receive a standard conventional rehabilitation program combined with supervised resistance exercise training targeting major muscle groups with free weights or elastic bands.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Conventional Rehabilitation

Behavioral: Resistance Exercise

Conventional rehabilitation

Active Comparator group

Description:

Participants will receive only the standard conventional rehabilitation program without any additional aerobic or resistance exercise.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Conventional Rehabilitation