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

Abstract

Objective: To determine the effect of aerobic exercise on maximal and submaximal cardiopulmonary responses and predictors of change in individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD).

Design: Single-center, parallel-group, rater-blind study.

Setting: Research laboratory.

Participants: Individuals with mild to moderate PD (N=100).

Intervention: 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.

Main outcome measures: Cardiopulmonary responses were collected via gas analysis during a maximal graded exercise test at baseline and post intervention.

Results: 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).

Conclusions: 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.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01636297.

Keywords: Exercise; Exercise test; Oxygen consumption; Parkinson's disease; Rehabilitation.