Interval Training and Parkinson's Disease

After a 10-minute supine rest on a padded treatment table, subjects will breathe at a rate of six breaths per minute for two minutes. The heart rate will be monitored using a Polar heart rate monitor and variations will be detected using the elite application via mobile device.

The objective of the test is to walk as far as possible for six minutes. The subject will walk at a normal pace around a marked course for six minutes. The subject may stop to rest and begin again at will. The distance covered indicates aerobic fitness. The further a person walks, the better their cardiovascular condition. The units are meters.

The ten-meter walk test will be used to assess gait velocity. The participants will be asked to walk as quickly as possible in a straight line on a 10-m course marked at 0, 2, 8 and 10 m. On verbal command, participants will start on the 0-m mark and stop when they cross the 10-m mark. The total time to ambulate from the 2-m mark to the 8-m mark (6 m total) will be timed to the hundredth of a second. Two trials will be performed, and the average will be documented in meters per second. One-minute recoveries will be provided between trials. Total time is 420 seconds.

The five time sit-to-stand test will be used to assess functional lower body strength. The participant will sit with their arms folded across their chest and their back against the chair. On verbal command, the participant will stand up and sit down 5 times as quickly as possible. Timing begins at "Go" and ends when the buttocks touch the chair after the 5th repetition. One practice and two testing trials will be performed. Time will be measured in seconds.

Following the Six-Minute Walk Test, participants will be asked to sit quietly for one-minute and heart rate recovery will be determined by analyzing the participant's heart rate immediately following the Six-Minute Walk Test and again after the one-minute recovery. The difference in beats between the two times will be calculated and used for analysis

A one-repetition maximum test measures the maximum load that an individual can lift only a single time throughout the full range of motion of the chest press and leg press exercises using proper form. All subjects' one-repetition maximum values will be determined within four to five trials. The units of measure are kilograms. Testing is performed on computerized, pneumatic machines.

Peak muscle power is then measured at eight relative intensities (40, 50, 60, 70, and 80% of one repetition maximum) on the computerized pneumatic machines. For each repetition, the concentric phase is performed as fast as possible, and the eccentric phase lasts between 2 and 3 seconds. Power testing is done for the leg press and chest press, and the unit of measurement is Watts.

Movement analyses will be performed during the ten-meter walk test. The measure will be swing time. Swing time is how long it takes to swing the back foot forward to initiate a new step. The unit of measurement is seconds.

Movement analyses will be performed during the ten-meter walk test. The measure will be stance time. Stance time is the duration of the time between heel strike and toe off of the same foot. The unit of measurement is seconds.

Movement analyses will be performed during the ten-meter walk test. The measure will be double support time. Double support time is how long both feet are in contact with the ground. The unit of measurement is seconds.

Movement analyses will be performed during the ten-meter walk test. The measure will be step time. Step time is how long one foot is in contact with the ground. The unit of measurement is seconds.

Movement analyses will be performed during the ten-meter walk test. The measure will be cadence. Cadence is the number of steps per minute. The unit of measurement is steps per minute.

Movement analyses will be performed during the ten-meter walk test. The measure will be stride length. Stride length is the distance covered when a person takes two steps. The unit of measurement is meters.

Movement analyses will be performed during the ten-meter walk test. The measure will be step length. Step length is the distance covered when a person takes one step. The unit of measurement is meters.

Movement analyses will be performed during the ten-meter walk test. The measure will be speed. Gait speed is how fast a person walks. The unit of measurement is meters per second.

Movement analyses will be performed during the ten-meter walk test. The measure will be stride width. Stride width is the side-to-side distance between the line of the two feet during gait. The measurement is in meters.

The Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire-39 is a 39-item self-report questionnaire that assesses Parkinson's disease-specific health-related quality over the last month across the eight quality of life dimensions and specific dimensions of functioning and well-being. Each question is scored from 0-4 points, with lower scores reflecting better quality of life.

The Non-Motor Symptoms Scale for Parkinson's Disease is a 30-item validated and reliable measure of non-motor symptoms that many patients with Parkinson's Disease experience. The scale is grouped into nine domains including cardiovascular, sleep/fatigue, attention/memory, gastrointestinal, urinary, sexual function, perceptual problems/hallucinations, mood/cognition, and miscellaneous. The score is based on the degree of severity (from 0-3) and frequency (from 1-4). The test is administered by a healthcare professional in an interview format.