Effect of Aerobic Exercise on Cardiopulmonary Responses and Predictors of Change in Individuals With Parkinson's Disease

• Published in: Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation Vol. 102; no. 5; pp. 925 - 931
• Main Authors: Penko, Amanda L., Zimmerman, Nicole M., Crawford, Michael, Linder, Susan M., Alberts, Jay L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01-05-2021
• Subjects: Exercise; Exercise test; Oxygen consumption; Parkinson's disease; Rehabilitation; GXT; Parkinson's disease; VO2peak; Oxygen consumption; ADL; EOT; Exercise test; VE; Exercise; PD; MDS-UPDRS III; V˙O2; Rehabilitation; MET; VT; CYCLE; FE
• ISSN: 0003-9993; 1532-821X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apmr.2020.12.011

To determine the effect of aerobic exercise on maximal and submaximal cardiopulmonary responses and predictors of change in individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD).
Single-center, parallel-group, rater-blind study.
Research laboratory.
Individuals with mild to moderate PD (N=100).
Participants were enrolled in a trial evaluating the effect of cycling on PD and randomized to either voluntary exercise (VE), forced exercise (FE), or a no exercise control group. The exercise groups were time and intensity matched and exercised 3×/wk for 8 weeks on a stationary cycle.
Cardiopulmonary responses were collected via gas analysis during a maximal graded exercise test at baseline and post intervention.
Exercise attendance was 97% and 93% for the FE and VE group, respectively. Average exercise heart rate reserve was 67%±11% for FE and 70%±10% for VE. No significant difference was present for change in peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak) post intervention, even though the FE group had a 5% increase in VO2peak. Both the FE and VE groups had significantly higher percentage oxygen consumption per unit time (V˙o2) at ventilator threshold (VT) than the control group compared with baseline values (P=.04). Mean V˙O2 at VT was 5% (95% CI, 0.1%-11%) higher in the FE group (P=.04) and 7% (2%, 12%) higher in VE group compared with controls. A stepwise linear regression model revealed that lower age, higher exercise cadence, and lower baseline VO2peak were most predictive of improved VO2peak. The overall model was found to be significant (P<.01).
Peak and submaximal cardiopulmonary function may improve after aerobic exercise in individuals with PD. Lower age, higher exercise cadence, and lower baseline VO2peak were most predictive of improved VO2peak in this exercise cohort. The improvements observed in aerobic capacity were gained after a relatively short aerobic cycling intervention.