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Abstract

International Journal of Exercise Science 17(3): 1493-1503, 2024. Various exercise types may slow disease progression and improve physical function for people with Parkinson’s disease (PWP), including community-based boxing programs (CBP). Recent research suggests that high-intensity exercise may result in greater benefits for PWP. Participants in CBP, which are typically self-paced, may not be reaching this optimal intensity. This study examines if it is feasible and beneficial for PWP to perform high-intensity exercise in a CBP. Seven subjects diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease participated in a multimodal CBP twice a week for six weeks while wearing heart rate (HR) monitors to help maintain an HR of 70-85% of the age-predicted maximum. Subjects completed pre- and post-testing, including Functional Gait Assessment (FGA), Five Time Sit to Stand (5xSTS), Timed Up and Go (TUG), and Activities-Specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABC). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and paired-sample t-tests were used to evaluate improvements (p <0.05) from baseline. Both Cohen’s d and minimally clinically important difference (MCID) were used to evaluate effect size and efficacy. Subjects completed 37.99±8.20 minutes of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) exercise. Results demonstrated significant improvement in FGA, TUG, and 5xSTS with large effect sizes and surpassing the MCID for the FGA and 5XSTS. It is feasible for PWP to perform high-intensity exercise in a CBP, which may improve balance and functional strength.

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