Abstract
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neuromotor disorder with no curative treatment. High-quality evidence shows exercise helps people with PD reduce disease severity, improve physical function and increase quality of life.
PURPOSE: To investigate how a new community-based group exercise program for people with PD impacts motor function and related measures after 1 or 2 12-week exercise sessions.
METHODS: Participants were 32 individuals diagnosed with PD at the mild to moderate stages (Hoehn & Yahr 1 to 3) who participated in a community-based group exercise program for 1 or 2 12-week sessions. Outcome measures included gait speed, six-minute walk test (6MWT), five times sit to stand (5xSTS), Mini-BEST, Parkinsons’s Disease Questionnaire-8 (PDQ), Activities Balance Confidence Scale (ABC), and Self Efficacy of Exercise (SEE). Data were analyzed in two samples: those who completed evaluations before and after one 12-week session (n = 31) and those who completed evaluations before and after two 12-week sessions (n = 24). Pre- and post-test results for each time period were compared using a paired sample t-test or the Wilcoxon signed-rank test as appropriate.
RESULTS: Comparing Pre-test to Post-test after one 12-week session, significant improvements were found in Gait Speed, 6MWT, 5xSTS (t > 2.8, p<.01, df = 30 for all three). No changes were seen in MiniBEST, PDQ-8, SEE, or ABC. For Pre-test to Post-test after two 12-week sessions, a significant improvement in 5xSTS (t 3.28, p<.01, df=23) and a significant decline in MiniBEST (t=2.1, p<.05, df = 23) were found. No changes were seen in Gait Speed, 6MWT, PDQ-8, SEE, or ABC.
CONCLUSION: The initial improvements in gait speed and endurance, and lower body strength are consistent with improvements in mobility as a result of regular exercise. Improved lower body strength was maintained through the second session of exercise. The lack of improvement in balance and in self-reported measures, as well as lack of long-term effects, may reflect a) the difficulty of addressing the multiple and varied symptoms contributing to measures of balance, quality of life and self-confidence; and b) inability to counteract disease progression over one year. Future studies should consider how specific class content can better address balance, confidence measures, and long-term fitness.
Recommended Citation
Dauplaise, Jake and States, Rebecca A.
(2026)
"Community-based Group Exercise for Individuals with Parkinson’s: How Does It Help?,"
International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings: Vol. 15:
Iss.
9, Article 5.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijesab/vol15/iss9/5