Researchers examined patients enrolled in the Study in Parkinson Disease of Exercise, or SPARX, who had early-stage Parkinson’s and were not taking any medication for it. Of 128 SPARX study participants, researchers recruited two-thirds for the current study published in JAMA Neurology.
The participants exercised three times a week for six months at high intensity (80 to 85 percent of maximum heart rate) and moderate intensity (60 to 65 percent of maximum heart rate). Researchers compared them to a control group who did not exercise.
The study shows that those who exercised at high intensity experienced delayed progression of Parkinson’s disease symptoms as compared to those who did not exercise. Moderate intensity workouts did not have any effect on symptoms.
More articles on healthcare quality:
Intermountain partners with Press Ganey for multiyear quality improvement initiative
Researchers laud drug poised to stop, cure Huntington’s disease after ‘phenomenal’ trials
92% of pediatric oncologists willing to consider medical marijuana use in patients
