Effects of a Multicomponent Protocol With Emphasis on Muscle Power Training on Bradykinesia in Individuals With Parkinson's Disease

NCT07172698 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: FUHSPortoAlegre_Minotto_Amado
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 22
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a chronic progressive neurological disorder that involves both motor and non-motor symptoms, culminating in functional decline and disability. One of the main symptoms of PD is bradykinesia and its deleterious effect on functionality. Muscle weakness has also been reported as an important symptom of PD, and muscle power may be even more affected and related to these symptoms. Typical conventional physical therapy treatment includes mobility exercises, strength training, gait training, and balance training, and it presents numerous benefits associated with the reduction of motor symptoms of PD. Physical therapy with power training has also been studied as an alternative to improve the ability to perform activities of daily living in other populations. However, the literature that includes power training in physiotherapeutic approaches for people with PD is scarce. Power training may minimize the problems arising from changes in motor function in older adults with PD; however, there is still a lack of evidence using this modality in the different subtypes of the disease. Knowing that motor function is associated with functional capacity and disease severity, physical therapy becomes an important treatment resource with exercises to improve muscle power. Therefore, the objective of this study is to investigate the effect of a multicomponent protocol with an emphasis on muscle power training concerning bradykinesia in individuals with rigid-akinetic type PD. A Randomized Clinical Trial will be conducted, in which individuals diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, rigid-akinetic type, classified from 1 to 3 on the Hoehn and Yahr Scale, aged between 50 and 85 years, and who sign the Informed Consent Form will participate. The individuals will be randomized into two treatment groups: G1 - traditional multicomponent training, and G2 - multicomponent training with an emphasis on muscle power. Assessments will be conducted at four time points for all participants: before (T0), during (T1 - 6 weeks), immediately after intervention (T3 - 12 weeks), and follow-up (T4 - 16 weeks). The assessments will consist of the analysis of: 1) motor function through the adapted Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS III) (bradykinesia as the primary outcome); 2) mobility of the posterior chain of the trunk and lower limbs using the Wells Bench; 3) body composition by Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA); 4) rigidity of the leg extensor muscles assessed by ultrasound elastography; 5) muscle power of knee extensors using a linear potentiometer (Peak Power, CEFISE); 6) functional capacity through the CounterMovement Jump - CMJ and the Sit-to-Stand Five Times Test (TSLCV); and 7) postural assessment using the NeuroPostureApp. Treatment sessions will occur twice a week for 12 weeks, lasting 60 minutes each, totaling 24 sessions for each intervention. Group 1 will perform an exercise protocol that includes warm-up, mobility, muscle strength, and flexibility. Group 2 will perform the same exercise protocol, with the caveat that, whenever feasible, exercises will be executed in the muscle power modality (at the highest possible speed). This latter training is characterized by a lower number of repetitions and a higher movement speed, guided by the therapists assisting. The progression of muscle power exercises will occur at 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, and 60% of 1RM over the 12 weeks, distributed in 2 sets of 6 to 8 repetitions, with rest times of 60 to 120 seconds.

Conditions

Parkinson Disease (PD)

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Bradykinesia

  The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of a multicomponent protocol with an emphasis on muscle power training concerning bradykinesia in individuals with rigid-akinetic type PD. This outcome will be measured using the UPDRS (Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale) Part III.

  Baseline, 6 weeks, end of intervention (12 weeks) and follow-up (16weeks)

Secondary Outcomes (7)

• Mobility of the posterior chain of the trunk and lower limbs

  Baseline, 6 weeks, end of intervention (12 weeks) and follow-up (16weeks)

• Body composition by Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA)

  Baseline, 6 weeks, end of intervention (12 weeks) and follow-up (16weeks)

• Rigidity of the leg extensor muscles assessed by ultrasound elastography

  Baseline, 6 weeks, end of intervention (12 weeks) and follow-up (16weeks)

• Muscle power of knee extensors using a linear potentiometer (Peak Power, CEFISE)

  Baseline, 6 weeks, end of intervention (12 weeks) and follow-up (16weeks)

• Functional capacity through the CounterMovement Jump - CMJ

  Baseline, 6 weeks, end of intervention (12 weeks) and follow-up (16weeks)

Study Arms (2)

G1 - traditional multicomponent training

EXPERIMENTAL

Group 1 will perform an exercise protocol that includes warm-up, mobility, muscle strength, and flexibility

Other: traditional multicomponent training

G2 - multicomponent training with an emphasis on muscle power

EXPERIMENTAL

Group 2 will perform the same exercise protocol, with the caveat that, whenever feasible, exercises will be executed in the muscle power modality (at the highest possible speed). This latter training is characterized by a lower number of repetitions and a higher movement speed, guided by the therapists assisting. The progression of muscle power exercises will occur at 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, and 60% of 1RM over the 12 weeks, distributed in 2 sets of 6 to 8 repetitions, with rest times of 60 to 120 seconds.

Other: multicomponent training with an emphasis on muscle power

Interventions

traditional multicomponent training OTHER

Group 1 will perform an exercise protocol that includes warm-up, mobility, muscle strength, and flexibility

G1 - traditional multicomponent training

multicomponent training with an emphasis on muscle power OTHER

Group 1 will perform an exercise protocol that includes warm-up, mobility, muscle strength, and flexibility. Group 2 will perform the same exercise protocol, with the caveat that, whenever feasible, exercises will be executed in the muscle power modality (at the highest possible speed). This latter training is characterized by a lower number of repetitions and a higher movement speed, guided by the therapists assisting. The progression of muscle power exercises will occur at 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, and 60% of 1RM over the 12 weeks, distributed in 2 sets of 6 to 8 repetitions, with rest times of 60 to 120 seconds.

G2 - multicomponent training with an emphasis on muscle power

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 50 Years - 85 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• To be included in the research, individuals must:
• be Diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and classified as 1 to 3 on the Hoehn and Yahr Scale;
• Present rigid akinetic PD;
• Be Aged between 50 and 85 years;
• Achieve a minimum score of 21 points on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCa);
• Sign the Informed Consent Form (ICF)

You may not qualify if:

• Individuals will be excluded from this study if they present:
• Previous associated neurological diseases;
• Vestibular system disorders;
• Change in the pattern of levodopa use during the study;
• Severe heart disease;
• Uncontrolled arterial hypertension;
• Previous spinal surgeries;
• Tumors or infection of the spinal column;
• Inflammatory diseases of the spinal column;

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Federal University of Health Science of Porto Alegre: lead
• Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre

Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

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 Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor, PhD

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 28, 2025
• First Posted: September 15, 2025
• Study Start: November 1, 2025
• Primary Completion: February 1, 2026
• Study Completion: February 1, 2026
• Last Updated: March 17, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-03

Locations

BR (1)