The Impact of Exercise on the Symptoms and Side Effects of Parkinson’s Disease

OBJECTIVE

To synthesize current literature that assesses the effects of various exercise interventions on the symptoms and side effects of Parkinson's Disease (PD).

METHODS

35 peer-reviewed journal articles met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed to collect information on how various methods of exercise impacted the symptoms and progression of PD. EBSCO via Saint Louis University library, PubMed, and Google Scholar were utilized in the search. Articles published before February 2017 and any meta-analyses or systematic reviews were excluded. Type of aerobic exercise, intensity, time, improvement outcomes, and population were considered and compared.

KEY FINDINGS

Specific intervention programs were categorized in the following groups: aquatic programs, dance programs, aerobic exercise, and miscellaneous. On average, each exercise program was a duration of 56.5 minutes occurring 2.9 times a week, with an average duration of 8.4 week-long programs, excluding 2 several month-long programs. Balance, quality of life, motor measures, presence of motor symptoms, and coordination improved in aquatic programs. Participants of the dance programs saw improvement in balance, gait, confidence, quality of life, and motor measures. Balance, presence of motor symptoms, and coordination improved among the aerobic exercise program participants. Miscellaneous exercise programs ranged from exergaming (video-game based intervention) to yoga, and participants saw improvement in balance, gait, quality of life, and motor measures. Overall, it was concluded that several forms of exercise, when completed within specific time, duration, and frequency parameters, can have a positive impact on multiple symptoms and side effects of PD.

Madison Fagan

Madison Fagan is a 4th year BS-Master's of Occupational Therapy student with a Spanish minor from Downers Grove, IL. During her time at SLU, she has been involved in the MLK Scholars Program, the Student Occupational Therapy Association, and Alpha Eta Health Sciences Honor Society; and has served in the role of Chapter President of Zeta Tau Alpha and current President of Pi Theta Epsilon OT Honor Society. After graduation, Madison will complete her final year of the OT program at SLU, and will graduate with her Master’s degree in May 2022. She hopes to work in a neurorehabilitation or pediatric setting post-graduation.

Sarah Hirst

Sarah Hirst is a senior studying occupational therapy at Saint Louis University (SLU). She is planning on completing her master’s degree at SLU next spring (2022). Sarah plans to work with pediatric populations at a neurorehabilitation or inpatient setting upon graduation. Her hobbies include hiking, sports, hanging out with friends, watching her favorite tv shows, and cooking.

Mia Bella Callari

Mia Bella is an Occupational Therapy major from Cleveland, Ohio. After graduation she is going to continue in the Master's of Occupational Therapy program here at SLU and plans to apply to Doctoral programs this coming fall. Outside of school she enjoys being in the outdoors, music, playing the guitar and piano, and singing.

Sara Vari

Sara is from Orland Park, IL and is in the Occupational Science/Occupational Therapy program. She is involved in Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship and it has been a big influence on her faith and growth as a student at SLU. After graduation Sara hopes to work to become a Certified Hand Therapist.

The group would like to thank their faculty sponsor Dr. Omar Ahmad for their support of this project.