NCT01246700

Sensory Attention Focused Exercise in Parkinson's Disease

Sensory Attention Focused Exercise in Parkinson's Disease: A Randomized Double-Crossover Trial.

• Status: Unknown
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 76 (actual)
• Sponsor: Sun Life Financial Movement Disorders Research and Rehabilitation Centre · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: —
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The purpose of this study is 1.) to determine if sensory attention focused exercise is an effective management strategy for Parkinson's disease, and 2.) to identify if the benefits are a result of strength gains.

Detailed description

Currently, there is no cure for Parkinson's disease (PD) and although medication offers symptom reduction, there are many negative side effects associated with medication use. Thus, there has been an increased emphasis on exercise interventions for symptom reduction. Recent research has shown that both sensory attention focused exercise (SAFEx) and strength training interventions improved disease severity more so than other exercise interventions (such as aerobic, aquatic and no exercise). Upon closer examination, SAFEx showed further symptom improvements than the strength training program. Thus exists the need to further examine SAFEx using a standardized protocol - a single-blind randomized double-crossover trial - that has been used sparingly in exercise interventions. In addition, the 30-second chair stand has been implemented into the testing protocol, as it has been shown to be a reliable measurement of functional strength for older adults. This test was implemented in order to identify the functional strength gains, if any, that are associated with SAFEx. It is hypothesized that the SAFEx intervention will improve disease symptoms in PD, and that the results will not be due to strength gains.

Conditions

• Parkinson's Disease

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Sensory Attention Focused Exercise (SAFEx)	Consisted of 12 weeks for SAFEx intervention, 3 times a week for an hour each session. Participants complete dynamic balance activities and a variety of seated stretches and range of motion activities. Participants are cued to focus on sensation and proprioception of limbs. Group A received SAFEx for 12 weeks then received no treatment for 12 weeks.
OTHER	Sensory Attention Focused Exercise (SAFEx)	Consisted of 12 weeks for SAFEx intervention, 3 times a week for an hour each session. Participants complete dynamic balance activities and a variety of seated stretches and range of motion activities. Participants are cued to focus on sensation and proprioception of limbs. Group B received no treatment for 12 weeks, then received SAFEx for 12 weeks.

Timeline

• Start date: 2008-06-01
• Primary completion: 2009-12-01
• Completion: 2010-12-01
• First posted: 2010-11-23
• Last updated: 2010-11-23

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Canada