Study of Blood Flow Restriction with Balance Strengthening Exercises to Improve Symptoms in Parkinsons Disease

What this Trial Is About

Parkinsons disease is a progressive nervous system condition that affects movement control in the arms, legs, and face. This research aims to understand how restricting blood flow during balance-challenging strengthening exercises can improve symptoms like balance, mobility, walking, and endurance in people with Parkinsons disease. The study compares two groups to evaluate these effects and assess how well participants tolerate these exercises. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. Group 1 will perform instability resistance training combined with blood flow restriction using tight cuffs around the thighs, while Group 2 will perform instability resistance training alone. Both groups will attend two sessions per week for six weeks, with each session lasting about 45 minutes. Exercises include toe raises, lunges, and single-leg stances on unstable surfaces like foam and balance discs. Researchers will also use non-invasive peripheral nerve stimulation to measure spinal nerve pathway strength. Throughout the study, participants will be assessed at baseline, after 6 weeks, and up to 14 weeks for walking ability, balance, muscle strength in the hips, knees, and ankles, and overall physical function. Quality of life will be evaluated using a Parkinsons disease questionnaire. Safety and feasibility of the treatments will be monitored, and nerve function tests will help understand the impact on muscle control. The total participation period extends up to 14 weeks, including follow-up assessments.

Blood Flow Restriction for Optimizing Balance in Parkinson's Disease