Boxing-Based Training to Improve Balance and Mobility in Parkinson's Disease

NCT07835230 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: CEISH-174-2022
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 22
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if physical exercise that extensively and simultaneously challenges the brain's balance control network is effective in improving balance for people with mild to moderate Parkinson's disease. The study aims to test a specific hypothesis: that a physically demanding, "multidomain" program-which trains multiple areas of balance at the same time-will produce significantly better results than simple exercises that only partially address the balance network. To test this, researchers will use a specialized boxing-based program (EBA-B) as a model of challenging exercise. This will be compared to an active control group performing simple, low-intensity mobility movements in a chair. The main questions it aims to answer are:

• Does exercise that simultaneously challenges multiple domains of balance (using boxing as a tool) produce superior global improvements compared to less demanding programs?
• Is this extensive neural challenge more effective at reducing motor symptoms and improving functional mobility? Participants will:
• Complete an 8-week "challenging" phase involving 50-minute group boxing sessions (EBA-B) 3 times per week, designed to challenge speed, agility, and coordination.
• Complete an 8-week "simple exercise" phase involving 20-minute home-based mobility seated workout 5 times per week, along with weekly education talks.
• Undergo clinical evaluations and balance tests at the start, middle, and end of the study to measure changes in their mobility

Conditions

Parkinson's Disease (PD)

Keywords

Postural Balance; Boxing; Exercise Therapy; Gait; Neurological Rehabilitation; Mobility; Agility; Balance

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Change from Baseline in Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test (MiniBESTest) Total Score

  The MiniBESTest is a clinical rating scale used to assess four domains of balance: anticipatory postural adjustments, reactive postural control, sensory orientation, and dynamic balance. It consists of 14 items, each scored on an ordinal scale from 0 to 2. The total score ranges from 0 to 28 points, where 0 represents the greatest balance impairment and 28 represents typical, healthy balance performance.

  Baseline, 8 weeks (end of Phase 1), and 19 weeks (end of Phase 2/Study Completion).

• Change from Baseline in Functional Gait Assessment (FGA) Total Score

  The FGA is a clinical scale designed to assess postural stability during various walking tasks. It comprises 10 tasks, each rated from 0 to 3 points. The total score ranges from 0 to 30 points, where 0 indicates severe gait impairment and 30 indicates normal functional gait.

  Baseline, 8 weeks (end of Phase 1), and 19 weeks (end of Phase 2/Study Completion).

Secondary Outcomes (8)

• Change from Baseline in Movement Disorder Society - Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Part III (MDS-UPDRS III)

  Baseline, 8 weeks (end of Phase 1), and 19 weeks (end of Phase 2/Study Completion).

• Change from Baseline in Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39) Summary Index and Individual Domain Scores

  Baseline, 8 weeks (end of Phase 1), and 19 weeks (end of Phase 2/Study Completion).

• Change from Baseline in Activities-specific Balance Confidence (ABC) Scale

  Baseline, 8 weeks (end of Phase 1), and 19 weeks (end of Phase 2/Study Completion).

• Change from Baseline in First Step Range of Motion (ROM)

  Baseline, 8 weeks (end of Phase 1), and 19 weeks (end of Phase 2/Study Completion).

• Change from Baseline in Functional Gait Speed

  Baseline, 8 weeks (end of Phase 1), and 19 weeks (end of Phase 2/Study Completion).

Study Arms (2)

Group EF: EBA-B followed by Active Control

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this arm first receive 8 weeks of the experimental boxing-based balance and agility training (EBA-B), followed by a 3-week washout period. Subsequently, they crossover to receive 8 weeks of the Active Control (AC) intervention, which consists of education sessions and home-based mobility exercises.

Behavioral: Boxing-Based Balance and Agility Training (EBA-B).; Behavioral: Mobility and Education (AC).

Group EDU: Active Control followed by EBA-B

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this arm first receive 8 weeks of the Active Control (AC) intervention (education and home-based mobility exercises), followed by a 3-week washout period. Subsequently, they crossover to receive 8 weeks of the experimental boxing-based balance and agility training (EBA-B).

Behavioral: Boxing-Based Balance and Agility Training (EBA-B).; Behavioral: Mobility and Education (AC).

Interventions

Boxing-Based Balance and Agility Training (EBA-B). BEHAVIORAL

This intervention is a specialized multidomain exercise program designed to extensively and simultaneously challenge the brain's balance control network. * Frequency: 50-minute group sessions, 3 times per week for 8 weeks (24 sessions total). * Structure: Organized into two 4-week blocks: a Learning Block for technical acquisition and an Integration Block where exercise complexity and volume increase. * Session Layout: Includes a warm-up, three 12-minute work stations focusing on boxing techniques (punches and footwork), speed, and agility drills, followed by a cool-down. * Intensity: Progressively increases from 40% to 75% of maximum heart rate, monitored via pulse oximetry.

Group EDU: Active Control followed by EBA-B; Group EF: EBA-B followed by Active Control

Mobility and Education (AC). BEHAVIORAL

This active control intervention provides a partial challenge to the balance network through simpler movements and social interaction. * Total Volume: 150 minutes per week, matching the EBA-B volume. * Education Component: Weekly 50-minute in-person group sessions led by specialists, covering topics related to Parkinson's Disease and quality of life. * Mobility Component: 20-minute home-based exercise sessions performed 5 times per week. These are simple, low-intensity mobility drills performed in a seated position (chair-based) following a video-recorded guide.

Group EDU: Active Control followed by EBA-B; Group EF: EBA-B followed by Active Control

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 25 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Age 25 years or older
• Confirmed diagnosis of idiopathic Parkinson's Disease by a specialist physician
• Parkinson's Disease severity stage between I and III on the Hoehn and Yahr scale
• Current use of stable doses of anti-parkinsonian medication
• Ability to stand upright without assistance
• Ability to walk independently at home for at least two minutes, with or without a walking aid
• Not currently participating in any other specialized exercise program (such as non-contact boxing, Tai Chi, tango, or aquatic therapy)
• Availability and means to attend in-person group sessions three times per week for eight weeks

You may not qualify if:

• Currently undergoing the process of Parkinson's Disease diagnostic confirmation
• Diagnosis of atypical parkinsonism
• Other neurological conditions besides Parkinson's Disease
• History of Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) or other brain surgeries
• Severe bone or muscle problems that prevent safe exercise
• Uncontrolled heart or metabolic conditions that make exercise unsafe
• Severe respiratory conditions or current COVID-19 (SARS-COV2) infection

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Chile: lead

Study Sites (1)

Fundación Unión Parkinson Bío Bío

Concepción, Bío Bío, 4030000, Chile

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Parkinson Disease

Interventions

Range of Motion, Articular; Educational Status

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

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

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Physical Examination; Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures; Diagnosis; Musculoskeletal Physiological Phenomena; Musculoskeletal and Neural Physiological Phenomena; Socioeconomic Factors; Population Characteristics

Study Officials

• Pablo I Burgos, PhD

  University of Chile

  STUDY DIRECTOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: Participants were kept masked to the specific research question, the study hypothesis, and the detailed characteristics of the outcome measures to minimize expectation bias. Additionally, clinical evaluations using subjective balance and gait scales were video-recorded at each time point. These recordings were subsequently evaluated and scored by an independent investigator who was blinded to both the group assignment and the specific intervention phase (EBA-B or AC) being assessed.
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator, Ph.D., PT

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 11, 2026
• First Posted: September 22, 2026
• Study Start: November 23, 2022
• Primary Completion: December 6, 2023
• Study Completion: March 1, 2024
• Last Updated: September 22, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-09

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL, SAP, ANALYTIC CODE
• Time Frame: After the publication of the clinical trial, for 5 years.
• Access Criteria: Based on reasonable request to the project director (Pablo Burgos, pburgos@uchile.cl) and the principal investigator (Miguel Pino, mmpinogar@gmail.com), the data will be shared.

Locations

CL (1)