A controlled clinical trial investigating the effects of cycle ergometry training on exercise tolerance, balance and quality of life in patients with Parkinson’s disease

Abstract

Purpose: To establish the effect of a 6-week programme of cycle ergometry training on exercise tolerance, balance, activities of daily living (ADL) and quality of life in individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Method: Twenty-three subjects were recruited from the Parkinson’s database of the neurology service in a large urban teaching hospital. Quasi-experimental study of interrupted time-series design was conducted with subjects acting as their own control. Assessments were carried out at baseline, week 7 following the control phase, and week 14 following the intervention phase. Intervention consisted of 30-min cycle ergometry training once weekly. Outcome measures included Six Minute Walk Test, Physiological Cost Index, Berg Balance Scale, Timed Up and Go Test (TUAG), ADL and mobility sections of the Unified Parkinson’s disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) and the Parkinson’s disease questionnaire (PDQ). Results: Statistically significant improvements were noted for the Berg Balance Scale (p = 0.003), TUAG (p = 0.019) and ADL (p = 0.006) and mobility (p = 0.021) sections of the UPDRS. A trend towards improvement was found for exercise tolerance. No significant effect on quality of life was found. Conclusion: A 6-week programme of cycle ergometry training did not significantly influence exercise tolerance in this sample, but improved balance, functional abililty and PD-related disability were noted.

Implications for Rehabilitation

• Individuals with Parkinson’s disease demonstrate lower levels of exercise tolerance than healthy controls.

• Individuals with Parkinson’s disease could participate in 30 min of cycle ergometry training, with no rest periods required.

• Cycle ergometry training has a positive effect on balance, function and PD-related disability.

Keywords::

• Aerobic exercise
• cycle ergometry
• exercise capacity
• Parkinson’s disease

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the patients who participated in the trial and the physiotherapists who supervised the training sessions. The authors also thank Beechfield Healthcare for providing an additional Thera Vital unit for use during the study period.

Declaration of Interest: The main author acknowledges partial funding received in support of this study from the St James’s Hospital Foundation, Dublin.