Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 29, 2026
Author Spotlight: Exploring the Impact of Reduced Resistance Exercise Volume on Metabolic Health
Published on: December 1, 2023
Comparative Effectiveness of mHealth-Supported Exercise Compared With Exercise Alone for People With Parkinson
Terry D Ellis1, James T Cavanaugh2, Tamara DeAngelis3
1Department of Physical Therapy and Athletic Training, Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Boston University, 635 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215 (USA); and Center for Neurorehabilitation, Boston University.
Background:
Declining physical activity commonly occurs in people with Parkinson disease (PD) and contributes to reduced functional capacity and quality of life.
Objective:
The purpose of this study was to explore the preliminary effectiveness, safety, and acceptability of a mobile health (mHealth)-mediated exercise program designed to promote sustained physical activity in people with PD.
Design:
This was a 12-month single-blind (assessor), pilot, comparative-effectiveness, randomized controlled study.
Methods:
An mHealth-mediated exercise program (walking with a pedometer plus engagement in planned exercise supported by a mobile health application) was compared over 1 year with an active control condition (walking with a pedometer and exercise only). There were 51 participants in a community setting with mild-to-moderately severe (Hoehn and Yahr stages 1-3) idiopathic PD. Daily steps and moderate-intensity minutes were measured using a step activity monitor for 1 week at baseline and again at 12 months. Secondary outcomes included the 6-Minute Walk Test, Parkinson Disease Questionnaire 39 mobility domain, safety, acceptability, and adherence.
Results:
Both groups increased daily steps, moderate-intensity minutes, and 6-Minute Walk Test, with no statistically significant between-group differences observed. In the less active subgroup, changes in daily steps and moderate-intensity minutes were clinically meaningful. An improvement in the Parkinson Disease Questionnaire 39 mobility score favored mHealth in the overall comparison and was statistically and clinically meaningful in the less active subgroup.
Limitations:
The limitation of the current study was the small sample size.
Conclusions:
Both groups improved physical activity compared with expected activity decline over 1 year. The addition of the mHealth app to the exercise intervention appeared to differentially benefit the more sedentary participants. Further study in a larger group of people with low activity at baseline is needed.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Exercise Stress Test
Exercise stress testing, commonly known as a treadmill test, is a noninvasive procedure used to evaluate cardiovascular function and diagnose heart conditions.
Definition
An exercise stress test measures the heart's response to exertion using a treadmill or stationary bicycle. Chest electrodes record the heart's electrical activity through an ECG, and blood pressure is monitored regularly.
Purposes
01:27Exercise and Muscle Performance
Endurance exercises
Endurance exercises involve running, swimming, or cycling, which require repetitive movements with low force output. When a person engages in endurance exercise, a few noticeable changes occur in their skeletal muscles. For instance, the number of capillaries...
01:17Exercise and Cardiac Output
Sustained exercise increases the muscles' oxygen demand, which can be...
02:26Comparing Copy Number Variations and SNPs
Copy number variations or CNVs are the structural variations that cover more than 1kb of DNA sequence. The single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), on the other hand, is a single nucleotide change or a point mutation that is found in more than 1%...
01:20Exercise and Cardiovascular Response
Light to moderate physical activity initiates a series of interconnected responses in the body. The heart rate modestly increases in anticipation of the workout, followed by widespread vasodilation as oxygen consumption by skeletal muscles increases. This results in decreased peripheral resistance, increased capillary blood flow, and accelerated...
02:24Comparative Excretory Systems