Comparison of strength training, aerobic training, and additional physical therapy as supplementary treatments for Parkinson’s disease: pilot study

Figures & data

Table 1 Descriptive analysis of the three groups (physiotherapy [P], aerobic training [AT], and strength training [ST]) at baseline

Variables	AT (n=5) mean (SD)	ST (n=8) mean (SD)	P (n=9) mean (SD)	P-value
Education (years)	6.8 (3.2)	9.8 (4.8)	10.7 (4.5)	0.312
Age (years)	64.8 (11.9)	64.1 (9.9)	62.1 (11.7)	0.893
Sex (% men)	80.0	71.4	55.6	0.614
MMSE (score)	24.6 (4.0)	25.8 (3.2)	26.5 (2.9)	0.585
Weight (kg)	64.2 (13.5)	69.2 (16.9)	69.0 (16.1)	0.836
Height (cm)	165.4 (11.6)	167.5 (3.4)	165.5 (9.3)	0.877
Time of disease (years)	6.6 (1.5)	6.0 (2.6)	4.3 (2.8)	0.238
Stage of disease (H&Y)	2.6 (0.5)	2.1 (0.6)	2.3 (0.5)	0.429
UPDRS-I (score)	3.0 (2.4)	3.4 (1.9)	3.1 (2.3)	0.931
UPDRS-II (score)	14.6 (5.1)	13.0 (5.3)	10.0 (4.5)	0.232
UPDRS-III (score)	31.0 (10.0)	40.4 (9.7)	34.9 (8.6)	0.233
UPDRS-IV (score)	2.8 (2.0)	4.2 (2.8)	4.4 (3.0)	0.544
Levodopa (%)	18.2	36.4	31.8	0.385
Dopamine agonist (%)	18.2	27.3	9.1	0.040a
Amantadine (%)	9.1	18.2	4.5	0.126
COMT inhibitor (%)	0	0	4.5	0.487
Others (%)	13.6	22.7	13.6	0.448

Notes: Level of statistical significance P≤0.05.

a Significant difference between groups.

Abbreviations: COMT, catechol O-methyltransferase; H&Y, Hoehn and Yahr scale; MMSE, Mini-Mental State Examination; SD, standard deviation; UPDRS, Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating scale; UPDRS-I, behavioral; UPDRS-II, activities of daily living; UPDRS-III, motor examination; UPDRS-IV, pharmacological complications.

Figure 1 Flow diagram for identification of eligible patients.

Abbreviations: AT, aerobic training; P, physiotherapy; PD, Parkinson’s disease; ST, strength training.

Table 2 Comparison of symptoms of Parkinson’s disease and functional capacity (pre and post) of aerobic training, strength training, and physiotherapy

	Strength training (n=8)			Aerobic training (n=5)			Physiotherapy (n=9)			F	P-value
	Pre mean (SD)	Post mean (SD)	ES	Pre mean (SD)	Post mean (SD)	ES	Pre mean (SD)	Post mean (SD)	ES
UPDRS-I (score)	3.8(2.1)	2.1 (1.5)	−0.93	3.0 (2.4)	3.0 (2.3)	0.00	3.1 (2.4)	2.6 (2.4)	−0.21	0.948	0.405
UPDRS-II (score)	14.3 (6.3)	1 1.7 (5.0)	−0.46	14.6(6.1)	8.2 (5.3)	−1.12	10.0(4.5)	1 1.0(10.1)	0.13	1.236	0.313
UPDRS-III (score)	42.1 (10.2)	30.5 (8.3)	−1.25	31.0(10.0)	20.2 (5.5)	−1.34	34.9 (8.6)	33.9(17.0)	−0.07	1.332	0.287
UPDRS-IV (score)	4.6 (2.8)	3.4 (2.4)	−0.46	2.8 (2.0)	5.8 (2.8)	1.23	4.4 (3.0)	7.0 (6.6)	0.51	1.205	0.322
8-FT (s)	9.5 (2.8)	7.0(1.1)	−1.18	10.1 (3.4)	7.0(1.4)	−1.08	9.6 (2.2)	7.2(1.0)	−1.35	0.153	0.859
BST (cm)	22.4(10.5)	17.7(13.8)	−0.38	23.6(14.8)	10.8(17.4)	−0.79	23.3 (1 1.3)	18.0(14.4)	−0.41	1.149	0.338
CSRT (cm)	8.6 (9.2)	6.5 (5.5)	−0.28	8 (7.6)	8.6(12.0)	−0.06	10.2(10.2)	1 I.I (11.5)	0.08	0.313	0.735
ACT (repetitions)	14.3 (4.9)	18.0(5.1)	0.74	1 1.8 (3.9)	16.4(4.0)	1.16	14.9 (4.7)	15.2(3.3)	0.07	1.400	0.271
CST (repetitions)	10.2(3.1)	15.0(2.1)	1.81	10.4(4.5)	13.4 (2.0)	0.86	10.7(3.2)	12.3 (2.3)	0.57	1.184	0.328
2-MST (repetitions)	46.7 (20.2)	61.1 (20.0)	0.72	50.6 (36.0)	68.6 (8.4)	0.69	57.9 (20.7)	42.7 (20.8)	−0.73	5.657	0.012a
10-MWT(s)	8.0(3.1)	6.2(1.0)	−0.78	9.0 (2.9)	6.5 (0.5)	−1.20	7.2(1.8)	6.7(1.0)	−0.34	1.122	0.346
Berg (score)	50.3 (4.9)	52.5(5.1)	0.44	52.6 (4.7)	54.0 (2.4)	0.38	52.5 (2.3)	52.5 (3.6)	0.00	0.333	0.721

Notes: Level of statistical significance P≤0.05.

a Significant difference between groups.

Abbreviations: 2-MST, 2-Minute Step Test; 8-FT, 8-Foot Up and Go Test; 10-MWT, 10-Meter Walk Test; ACT, Arm Curl Test; Berg, Berg Balance Scale; BST, Back Scratch Test; CSRT, Chair Sit and Reach Test; CST, Chair Stand Test; ES, effect size; SD, standard deviation; UPDRS, Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale; UPDRS-I, behavioral; UPDRS-II, activities of daily living; UPDRS-III, motor examination; UPDRS-IV, pharmacological complications.

Figure 2 Effect size (ES) of symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.

Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; L, large; M, moderated; S, small; UPDRS, Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale; UPDRS-I, behavioral; UPDRS-II, activities of daily living; UPDRS-III, motor examination; UPDRS-IV, pharmacological complications.

Figure 3 Spectral analysis of mean frequency by delta (post and pre) of aerobic training (AT), strength training (ST), and physiotherapy (P) groups.^a

Note: ^aThe yellow and orange colors represent increased cortical activation after intervention.
Abbreviations: AA, anterior area; PA, posterior area.