High intensity exercise better for people with Parkinson’s

High-intensity interval training with cycling as exercise had better results for people living with Parkinson’s disease.

Lori Ann Vallis, Phillip Millar, and Jamie Burr, professors of human health and nutritional sciences at the University of Guelph, received a grant from Parkinson’s Canada to fund their research study in 2018.

The study spanned from 2018 to 2020 and there were three cohorts of participants with Parkinson’s. A total of 30 participants joined the study.

The cohorts each spend 12 weeks in the study. The first and last weeks were spent in the U of G labs to assess posture, stability, balance, and other markers of ability.

The 10 weeks between the participants were exercising three days a week at the Three Rivers YMCA.

One group cycled for 60 minutes at a lower intensity, while the other group cycled at a higher intensity for one minute, rested for one minute, and continued for 20 minutes.

Participants in the high-intensity group saw the same or greater benefits from exercising for a shorter period of time but at a higher intensity.

“We know only from the literature, and only anecdotally, that they fatigue a little faster than their unhealthy or supposedly healthy peers,” Vallis said.

The results of the study were that all participants had better cardiovascular fitness. Performing everyday activities like grocery shopping, walking your dog, and even different obstacles like transitioning from tile to carpet have been improved.

“Looking again at the mental health part, which of course is very important when you’re dealing with a neurological disease that is neurodegenerative, and people, unfortunately, tend to get worse over time,” Vallis said.

Anecdotally, Vallis said the participants enjoyed the social aspect of the program and were happy to connect with other people living with Parkinson’s.

Vallis said he hopes that in the future this program can be run nationally in YMCAs across Canada.

It has been a collaborative effort between U of G researchers, Parkinson’s participants, and the Three Rivers YMCA.

“And we hope that doctors and others will encourage their patients to consider it as well. If the YMCA is available and can run these kinds of exercise programs, maybe we can take some of that burden off the health care system and put it in the hands of the experts, but without exercise.”

Even if people are busy and can only exercise for a short period of time, it still has benefits, Vallis said.

Before U of G researchers became involved with the YMCA, they already had specific programs for people with Parkinson’s.

“We were supporting people living with Parkinson’s disease at the time in our Neuro Fit program and were interested in learning about other types of evidence-based exercise programs. At the time, I think the Guelph Y staff was looking into the Pedaling for Parkinson’s program that was offered in the United States,” said Crystal Hughes, director of wellness for the Three Rivers YMCA.

The YMCA has run a running exercise program for people with Parkinson’s and other neurological conditions since 2013. They have also run a boxing exercise program for people with Parkinson’s at the Kitchener location since 2017.

“Our purpose as a charity is to make our communities healthier, to put our people and community first by listening, responding and adapting to their needs. If there is a need to run this type of program again, and we have the resources to do so, we would consider running the program in the future,” Hughes said.