Article

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of leg muscle power training in people with
Parkinson's disease. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. SETTING: University
laboratory (outcome measures and experimental intervention), community (control
intervention). SUBJECTS: Community-dwelling people with Parkinson's disease.
INTERVENTIONS: Leg muscle power training using pneumatic variable resistance
equipment (experimental) was compared with low intensity sham exercise (control).
Both groups exercised twice weekly for 12 weeks. MAIN MEASURES: Primary outcomes
were peak power of four leg muscle groups. Secondary outcomes were measures of
muscle strength, mobility, balance and falls. RESULTS: Exercise adherence was
high in both groups. Leg muscle power was significantly better in the
experimental group than the control group in all four primary outcome measures at
12 weeks after adjusting for baseline values: leg extensors (57.9 watts, 95%
confidence interval (CI) 22.0-93.7, p = 0.002); knee flexors (29.6 watts, 95% CI
7.4-51.8, p = 0.01); hip flexors (68.1 watts, 95% CI 19.6-116.5, p = 0.007); and
hip abductors (37.4 watts, 95% CI 19.9-54.9, p < 0.001). The experimental group
performed significantly better on tests of leg muscle strength (p < 0.001 to
0.07) and showed trends toward better performance in the Timed Up and Go (p =
0.13) and choice stepping reaction time (p = 0.11). There was a non-significant
reduction in the rate of falls in the experimental group compared with the
control group (incidence rate ratio 0.84, p = 0.76). CONCLUSIONS: This programme
significantly improved muscle power in all trained muscle groups.

Langue : ANGLAIS