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Getting to Compliance in Forced Exercise in Rodents: A Critical Standard to Evaluate Exercise Impact in Aging-related Disorders and Disease
Published on: August 22, 2014
Forced, not voluntary, exercise improves motor function in Parkinson's disease patients
Angela L Ridgel1, Jerrold L Vitek, Jay L Alberts
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA.
Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair
|January 10, 2009
Summary
Forced exercise significantly improved motor function and bimanual dexterity in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients, unlike voluntary exercise. These benefits persisted post-intervention, suggesting altered central motor control.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Exercise Physiology
- Rehabilitation Science
Background:
- Animal studies suggest forced exercise (FE) enhances motor function in Parkinsonian rodents.
- Human studies show limited reports of voluntary exercise (VE) improving overall motor function in Parkinson's disease (PD).
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the effects of VE and FE on motor function, PD symptoms, and bimanual dexterity.
- To investigate potential changes in motor control strategies following exercise interventions in PD patients.
Main Methods:
- Ten mild to moderate PD patients were randomized into 8-week FE or VE groups.
- FE involved pedaling 30% above preferred rate; VE used preferred rate.
- Both groups maintained identical aerobic intensity (60-80% of training heart rate).
Main Results:
- Aerobic fitness improved in both groups.
- FE significantly improved Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) motor scores by 35% and bimanual dexterity.
- VE did not yield improvements in motor scores or dexterity; FE benefits were maintained for 4 weeks post-intervention.
Conclusions:
- While both VE and FE improve aerobic fitness in PD patients, only FE significantly enhances motor function and bimanual dexterity.
- FE may alter central motor control by promoting a shift from feedback to feedforward processes.
- FE demonstrates potential as a therapeutic intervention for improving motor deficits in Parkinson's disease.
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