Community Walking Program for Parkinson's Disease
Recruiting in Palo Alto (17 mi)
Age: 18+
Sex: Any
Travel: May Be Covered
Time Reimbursement: Varies
Trial Phase: Academic
Recruiting
Sponsor: St. Louis University
Disqualifiers: Heart problems, Uncontrolled blood pressure, others
No Placebo Group
Trial Summary
What is the purpose of this trial?This study will investigate the feasibility of a 6-month community walking program for people with Parkinson's disease (PD) and their care partners in greater Saint Louis, Missouri region. The walking program will consist of weekly, organized walking groups at the Missouri Botanical Gardens. Participants in the program will use Nordic walking poles during the walks. The walking group(s) will meet once per week and will be supervised by walking group leaders from Saint Louis University. Participants will be given a smart watch to wear that will help step counts will be tracked in real-time. The program is designed to get people with Parkinson's disease out of their homes, cultivate a culture of connection with others with Parkinson's disease, and to be collectively accountable for a common goal toward increasing their physical and social engagement in their communities.
Will I have to stop taking my current medications?
The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It seems focused on a walking program, so it's likely you can continue your medications, but you should confirm with the trial organizers.
What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Community Walking Program for Parkinson's Disease?
Community exercise programs, including walking, can help people with Parkinson's disease stay active and manage their health better. While these programs may not always meet all exercise goals, they can prevent physical decline and support long-term health management.
12345Is the Community Walking Program safe for people with Parkinson's disease?
There is limited information about the safety of community walking programs for Parkinson's disease, but community exercise programs often lack specific knowledge needed to ensure safe exercise for these patients.
12467How does the Community Walking Program treatment for Parkinson's disease differ from other treatments?
The Community Walking Program is unique because it focuses on engaging people with Parkinson's disease in community-based exercise, which can help them actively participate in managing their health. Unlike traditional treatments, this program emphasizes personalized exercise goals and community involvement, potentially offering long-term benefits and increased exercise participation.
12358Eligibility Criteria
This trial is for people with Parkinson's Disease living in the greater Saint Louis, Missouri area. Participants should be willing to join a walking group and use Nordic walking poles. They must also agree to wear a smart watch that tracks their steps.Inclusion Criteria
Willing to participate in study for at least 6 months
I am between 30 and 85 years old.
I have been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease by a neurologist.
+1 more
Exclusion Criteria
I don't have health issues that stop me from exercising.
I have a neurological condition in addition to Parkinson's disease.
Evidence of significant cognitive impairment (determined by completing the Montreal Cognitive Assessment)
+1 more
Trial Timeline
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
2-4 weeks
Treatment
Participants engage in a community-based walking program using Nordic walking poles for 6 months
6 months
Weekly group walks
Follow-up
Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment, including fall reporting
6 months
Extension
Optional continuation of the walking program for an additional 6 months
6 months
Participant Groups
The study tests a 6-month community-based walking program at the Missouri Botanical Gardens for those with Parkinson's and their care partners. It includes weekly walks led by Saint Louis University staff, using Nordic poles, aiming to increase physical and social activity.
1Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Group I: Attend group community walking program for 60 minutes each weekExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
Participants will participate in one, 60-minute group walk using Nordic poles at the Missouri Botanical Gardens for at least 6 months, with an optional continuation upto 12 months. Participants will be assessed before the program begins, after 6-months, and after 12 months. Falls will be prospectively collected for 6 months following completion of the program.
Find a Clinic Near You
Research Locations NearbySelect from list below to view details:
Integrated Health and Movement Science Laboratory, Saint Louis UniversitySt. Louis, MO
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Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
St. Louis UniversityLead Sponsor
References
Are Mobile Persons With Parkinson Disease Necessarily More Active? [2023]Walking activity in persons with Parkinson disease (PD) is important for preventing functional decline. The contribution of walking activity to home and community mobility in PD is poorly understood.
Community Exercise: A New Tool for Personalized Parkinson's Care or Just an Addition to Formal Care? [2022]Physiotherapy and exercise are associated with motor and non-motor benefits in Parkinson's disease (PD). Community exercise programs may increase ongoing exercise participation and help people with Parkinson's disease actively participate in their health management. But there is still limited knowledge about these programs regarding their benefits, safety, implications over the long-term, and effective implementation. These questions could hold relevant clinical implications. In this perspective article, we identify the current challenges and reflect upon potential solutions to help community exercise to be implemented as an additional anchor to personalize management models for Parkinson's disease.
The need for mapping personal goals to exercise dosage in community-based exercise programs for people with Parkinson's disease. [2020]Purpose: Community-based exercise can support long-term management of Parkinson's disease, although it is not known if personal goals are met in these programs. The objectives of this study were to: (1) examine the goals of community based exercise programs from the participant and instructor perspectives; (2) establish the extent to which these programs meet self-described exercise outcomes; and (3) explore participant and instructor perspectives on barriers to meeting exercise expectations. Materials and Methods: This study explores the experiences of people with Parkinson's disease participating in a structured exercise program at six community sites. A mixed-methods approach was used, including participant and instructor interviews, assessment of exercise intensity, and mapping of exercise dosage to participant goals. Twenty-four exercise participants provided interview, quality of life, and exercise intensity data. Results: Twenty-one participants exercised for primary management of their Parkinson's disease. None met the exercise dosage necessary to meet this primary objective, although 60% met exercise dosage required to prevent disuse deconditioning. Participants and instructors did not describe similar goals for the community-based exercise program. Conclusions: Community-based exercise programs could be optimized by better aligning participant goals and exercise intensity.
Feasibility of a virtual exercise coach to promote walking in community-dwelling persons with Parkinson disease. [2022]The short-term benefits of exercise for persons with Parkinson disease (PD) are well established, but long-term adherence is limited. The aim of this study was to explore the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary evidence of the effectiveness of a virtual exercise coach to promote daily walking in community-dwelling persons with Parkinson disease.
Long-term group exercise for people with Parkinson's disease: a feasibility study. [2011]Aerobic and strengthening exercises have been shown to benefit people with Parkinson's disease (PD) on the basis of highly structured, short-term, clinical protocols. This study extended previous research by investigating feasibility of an ongoing, community-based, group exercise program for people with PD on the basis of short-term (10 weeks) and long-term (14 months) data.
Implementation of a Community-Based Exercise Program for Parkinson Patients: Using Boxing as an Example. [2020]Persons with Parkinson's disease (PD) benefit from continuous exercise through participation in community-based exercise programs. However, community programs often lack PD-specific knowledge needed to provide safe and adequately dosed exercise.
Training effects of a 12-week walking program on Parkinson disease patients and community-dwelling older adults. [2019]Introducing evidence-based exercise guidelines of Parkinson's disease (PD) into clinical practice and community settings has been highlighted.
Promoting exercise in Parkinson's disease through community-based participatory research. [2021]Parkinson's disease (PD) is a chronic, progressive, as-of-yet incurable, neurodegenerative condition affecting the nigro-striatal dopaminergic system. Emerging evidence suggests the importance of exercise in improving the trajectory of PD. Yet few people with PD are physically active. One challenge that healthcare professionals face in the 21st century is how to deliver physical activity programs to the population of individuals living with PD. A novel approach to delivering physical activity to people with PD is introduced - termed community-based participatory research (CBPR) - which engages people with PD and patient advocates as co-researchers in the development and implementation of community-based exercise programs. The authors describe the CBPR approach and provide several recent examples of community exercise programs that are steps in the direction of developing the CBPR model. This is followed by a discussion of what a more fully realized CBPR model might look like. Finally, the authors describe some obstacles to conducting CBPR and suggest strategies for overcoming them. It is argued that people with PD are an integral component of delivering the exercise intervention.