The Effect of Exercise on Individuals With Parkinson's Disease
The Effect of Exercise on Individuals With Parkinson's Disease
The goal of this trial is to compare the effect of two different exercise programs on
 neuro-physiological, motor, functional, and quality-of-life issues in individuals with
 Parkinson's disease to determine which program is most beneficial.
Parkinson's disease (PD) negatively affects the quality of life for a million individuals in
 the United States. While medication and surgery are the most effective treatments for PD,
 physicians and people with PD often delay using these treatments because of their
 considerable adverse side effects. Until a cure for PD is discovered, there is a compelling
 need to develop interventions that provide relief of symptoms without causing negative side
 effects.

 Recent research suggests that exercise may provide symptom relief in some characteristics of
 PD. While various exercise interventions appear to effectively improve motor, functional, and
 quality-of-life issues, the research is mixed regarding the nature, extent and duration of
 these improvements. Understanding how multiple characteristics of PD change and whether they
 can be modified by different exercise programs is essential to determining if an exercise
 program is clinically effective for PD.

 This study is designed to compare the initial (six months), and then long-term (2 years)
 effect that 2 different exercise programs (progressive resistance program or flexibility
 program) have on neuro-physiological, motor, functional, and quality-of-life issues in
 individuals with Parkinson's disease. The goal is to determine which program is most
 beneficial. Results from this study will be used to determine which exercise program produces
 the most beneficial effects on neuro-physiological, motor, functional and quality-of-life
 measures.

 NOTE: Recruitment for Parkinson's disease participants is now closed.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  a diagnosis of PD

 -  Up to the age of 67

 -  on at least 1 DA drug, may be on several PD medications

 -  able to walk for six minutes (may take rest breaks)

 -  able to come off their PD medication for testing (12 hour overnight withdrawal of
 antiparkinsonian medications)

 -  able to stay on stable PD medications for at least 6 months

 -  live within a 30 mile radius of Chicago

 -  Hoehn and Yahr Score: II - III while in the "Off" PD medication state

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  history of any other neurological disorder as determined by medical history and
 neurological exam

 -  history of a known injury, disease, or other disorder that might interfere with motor
 function in the proposed experiments

 -  a score less than 23 on the Mini-Mental State Examination

 -  currently involved in an active, ongoing formal exercise program deep brain
 stimulation surgery

 -  known cardiac problem or significant hypertension

 -  depression that may interfere with regular exercise

 -  hallucinations or being treated for hallucinations