Kick Out Parkinson's Disease 2

Summary

The benefits of exercise for general health and well-being in older adults are well-established. Balance exercises such as tai chi and yoga, along with resistance training, can improve or maintain physical function in older adults and enhance muscle strength. Furthermore, aerobic activity is critical for maintaining and improving cardiovascular and functional health. Non-contact boxing has recently seen a surge in popularity among individuals with Parkinson's Disease (PD), with components of both aerobic and balance exercise. While participants anecdotally note improvements in stress and physical function, this has only been minimally studied. Therefore, we conducted a 10-week long pilot study of a structured karate exercise program. Among 15 participants, our pilot data highlights improvements in quality of life and high enthusiasm for the karate classes. Based on these promising results from the pilot, we are recruiting a larger, randomized group for the second phase of the karate intervention. The aim of this study is to test whether and to what degree a community-based karate class tailored for individuals with early- to middle-stage Parkinson's Disease (PD) 1) is feasible; 2) improves objective outcomes such as mobility and balance; 3) improves patient-reported outcomes compared with individuals given a standard exercise prescription for PD.

Conditions

• Parkinson Disease

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Karate Classes

Eligible subjects will engage in twice-weekly karate classes for 6 months, specifically designed for individuals with early to middle stage PD, focused on incorporating upper and lower limb movements in multiple directions, increasing awareness throughout the body, shifting body weight and rotation, relaxation of the muscles, improving reaction time, using complex repetitive actions to improve coordination, footwork training and centered weight shifts to help with fall prevention, and striking shields for self-defense and stress relief

BEHAVIORAL

Pre-Intervention Study Visit

At the pre-intervention study visit, the study logistics will be reviewed, informed consent process will occur, the subject will complete a battery of pre-intervention assessments focused on overall mobility, gait, balance, mood, cognition, and quality of life, and the subjects will be prompted to share their expectations of and goals for the karate classes.

BEHAVIORAL

Bimonthly Online Survey

All participants in both arms will receive a personalized email every two months directing them to indicate how frequently they have attended karate classes, how frequently they have engaged in exercise, how frequently they have fallen, whether their PD medication regimen has changed, and they will complete brief surveys about mood, camaraderie, and overall quality of life.

BEHAVIORAL

6-month Study Visit

All participants in both arms will complete questionnaires and assessments of their PD symptoms, cognition, mood, camaraderie, and quality of life. Subjects will meet with a member of the study team to complete a series of physical and cognitive assessments. At this visit, subjects will review the initial expectations they shared at the pre-intervention visit and indicate if they thought their goals were achieved for the class.

BEHAVIORAL

12-month Study Visit

At the 12-month study visit, the assessments from the baseline and 6-month study visit will be readministered, along with an assessment of the subject's global impression of change. Subjects will be prompted to share their thoughts on how the intervention impacted their overall wellbeing, balance, and mindfulness; whether the intervention achieved their expectations; and they will be asked to provide feedback for improvements.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Rush University Medical Center

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Jori Fleisher, MD · Rush University Medical Center

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age

30 Years

Max Age

90 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2019-03-03

Primary Completion

2020-03-27

Completion

2020-03-27

Countries

• United States

Study Locations