The safety and feasibility of high-force eccentric resistance exercise in persons with Parkinson's disease

To examine the effect of high-force eccentric resistance exercise on measures of muscle damage and injury in persons with mild to moderate Parkinson's disease (PD).

Before-after trial.

Tertiary care center clinical laboratory.

Ten persons with PD (Hoehn and Yahr Staging Scale, stage 1-3).

Participants trained 3 days a week for 12 weeks on an eccentric ergometer, performing high-force eccentric resistance exercise with bilateral lower extremities.

Serum creatine kinase (CK) concentrations, muscle pain scores, and isometric force production were measured before, during, and after training.

Mean CK levels did not differ and did not exceed the threshold of muscle damage at any time point (P=.17). Muscle visual analog scale scores were low and only differed at week 2 (P=.04). Participants were highly compliant, whereas total negative work and isometric force increased over time (P=.02, P=.006, respectively).

Persons with mild to moderate PD can safely and feasibly participate in high-force eccentric resistance training. The data we present provide a basis for future investigations of the efficacy of this type of training on muscle size, strength, and mobility in persons with PD.