Mindfulness and Yoga or Resistance Exercise Training Fpr Parkinson's Patients

University of Miami

Status: Completed

Conditions: Resistance Training; Yoga

Treatments: Other: Yoga; Other: High-speed Resistance Training

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05513534

20220477

Details and patient eligibility

About

The investigators propose to compare the effects of a 16-week specially designed yoga program to a power-based resistance training program on affect trait mindfulness, anxiety, depression, functionality, and quality of life. As secondary measures, we propose to compare the effects of these exercise programs on measures of executive function (EF), sleep, disease stage, motor symptoms, muscle quality, rigidity, strength, power, and mobility.

Full description

Yoga has long been recognized as a therapeutic intervention for improving mindfulness and psychological well-being. Yoga represents a unique exercise activity that employs mindfulness-based practices and various balance postures to improve physical and mental health. Yoga is a gentle form of exercise that can be easily adapted to populations suffering from physical and mental limitations and has been shown to improve physical and psychological functioning in individuals with PD. Though research continues to support the positive psychological effects of yoga, it is unclear whether this is due to the unique mindfulness-rooted approach of yoga or general increases in physical activity.

Power-based resistance training has had promising results in the PD community. Improvements in balance, gait, and increases in leg muscle power and strength have been shown in PD patients after power training interventions. Although power training is a beneficial exercise modality in the treatment of motor symptoms, the effects of power training on nonmotor symptoms have yet to be established.

Enrollment: 35 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 30 to 80 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• diagnosed with mild to moderate PD [Hoehn and Yahr (H&Y) stage 1-3];
• over 50 years of age;
• stable use of medication;
• able to walk 15 m independently with or without an assistive device;
• the ability to get up and down from the floor with minimal assistance;
• not currently participating in yoga or resistance training more than one time per week;
• able to understand and communicate in English; and,
• able to provide informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

• cognitive impairment as designated by a score of less than 23 on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)]; and,
• any clinically significant medical condition, such as cardiopulmonary disease and musculoskeletal problems. Subjects providing affirmative answers on a Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q) or Health Status Questionnaire related to cardiopulmonary disease or musculoskeletal impairments will be required to present a physical activity clearance from their physician.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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35 participants in 2 patient groups

Standard Hatha Yoga

Experimental group

Description:

A yoga program adapted for those with PD will be used in the current study. It will be conducted over a 16-week period and consists of twice-weekly sessions lasting approximately one hour. The program will be based on principles of Hatha yoga which incorporate longer holds and deep breathing. Each session will include a warm-up, three yoga flows, a balance training section, and a cooldown phase. The first four weeks will emphasize proper alignment, breathing, and technique. Additionally, the classes will be led by a certified yoga instructor and include multiple on-site assistants to ensure a safe training environment. Participants will also be provided with assistive devices (i.e. chairs, yoga blocks, and blankets) if they are required.

Treatment:

Other: Yoga

Power Resisatnce Training

Experimental group

Description:

: A high-velocity resistance (power) will be conducted over a 16-week period and consists of twice-weekly sessions lasting approximately one hour. Each training session will begin with a brief warm-up. Each session will consist of three sets of 10 repetitions each with 1.5 to 2- to minute rest periods between sets. Participants will be instructed to control the concentric and eccentric velocity of each exercise, with each phase lasting approximately two to three seconds. Exercise order will be randomized during each session and upper and lower body exercises will be alternated whenever possible.

Treatment:

Other: High-speed Resistance Training