Feasibility and Effects of a Pickleball Program for People With Parkinson Disease

NCT05994508 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: IRBAZ/5214
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 16
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Pickleball is a fast-growing sport that has been shown to improve social integration, life satisfaction, function, and cognitive function in older adults. Parkinson disease is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by bradykinesia, rigidity, tremors, and postural instability. Exercise has been shown to improve physical and cognitive function in people with Parkinson disease (PD). The purpose of this study is to assess if a community pickleball program can be a feasible and effective for people living with PD.The primary aim of this study is to assess the feasibility of a group pickleball program for people with PD. Secondary aims is to assess the effects of a 6-week pickleball exercise program on balance, gait, cognition, upper extremity function, pain, and quality of life in people with PD. This will be a pre-test, post-test single-group, prospective, mixed-methods study with 1- month follow-up. Sixteen participants will be enrolled in a 6-week pickleball program, at a frequency of twice a week for one hour each session. Feasibility will be assessed by retention rates, adherence rates, resources, and number of adverse events. Quantitative data to be collected will include the Mini-BESTest, gait and body posture variables, Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire-8, the Shirt-Buttoning Task, 9 Hole Peg Test, grip strength, PD-Pain Classification System, and the National Institutes of Health Toolbox Cognition Battery. Additionally, participants will be scheduled for small semi-structured focus group interviews to gain qualitative data about their experiences of the program. It is hypothesized that a pickleball program for people living with PD will be a feasible activity and will result in improvements in balance, gait, cognition, upper extremity function, and quality of life. Additionally, it is hypothesized that participants will have a favorable opinion on the activity.

Conditions

Parkinson Disease

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Mini-BEStest

  Comprehensive balance assessment

  Within 7 day before and after the intervention as well as one-month after intervention completion

• 10-Meter Walk Test

  Measure of gait speed

  Within 7 day before and after the intervention as well as one-month after intervention completion

• Grip strength dynamometry

  Assessment of grip strength

  Within 7 day before and after the intervention as well as one-month after intervention completion

Secondary Outcomes (4)

• The shirt-buttoning task

  Within 7 day before and after the intervention as well as one-month after intervention completion

• 9-Hole Peg Test

  Within 7 day before and after the intervention as well as one-month after intervention completion

• Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire-8

  Within 7 day before and after the intervention as well as one-month after intervention completion

• Montreal Cognitive Assessment

  Within 7 day before and after the intervention as well as one-month after intervention completion

Study Arms (1)

Participants

EXPERIMENTAL

A single group of participants with Parkinson disease will participate in a 6-week pickleball program with pre-test, post-test, and one month follow-up testing.

Other: Pickleball program

Interventions

Pickleball program OTHER

The intervention will be a 6-week pickleball program, at a frequency of two times a week. Each session will be one hour which will consist of dynamic warm-up drills, pickleball-related skill practice and game play, and a cool-down period.

Participants

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Diagnosis of idiopathic Parkinson disease
• Able to walk without an assistive device
• Able to tolerate 45 minutes of activity with occasional seated rest

You may not qualify if:

• Diagnosis of any other neurologic disorder
• Any current illness, injury, or cognitive function that would prevent ability to perform the study tasks
• Not regularly participating in pickleball (less than 3 times a month)

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Midwestern University: lead
• Creighton University: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Creighton University

Phoenix, Arizona, 85012, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Parkinson Disease

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Parkinsonian Disorders; Basal Ganglia Diseases; Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Movement Disorders; Synucleinopathies; Neurodegenerative Diseases

Study Officials

• Suzanne O'Neal, DPT, DHSc

  Midwestern University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 8, 2023
• First Posted: August 16, 2023
• Study Start: January 12, 2024
• Primary Completion: May 30, 2024
• Study Completion: July 30, 2024
• Last Updated: June 26, 2025

Record last verified: 2023-08

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)