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Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair
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Aerobic Exercise and Early Parkinson's Disease

Karen J. Bridgewater

Motor Control and Motor Learning Laboratory, School of Physiotherapy, University of South Australia

Margie H. Sharpe

Motor Control and Motor Learning Laboratory, School of Physiotherapy, University of South Australia North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia 5000,

The effects of 12 weeks of twice-weekly aerobic exercise were investigated in a group of 13 persons with early Parkinson's disease (PD), compared with 13 nonexercising parkin sonians. Pertinent relationships between variables were also examined. Exercise class participation increased cardiorespiratory fitness and habitual activity level and margin ally improved mood. No change was noted regarding severity of parkinsonian signs. Func tional ability remained stable in the exercise group, but decreased in the control group. Results indicate that participation in an aerobic exercise program can result in gains in cardiorespiratory fitness and habitual activity levels, improving mood while maintain ing functional ability; these benefits can be gained without worsening the neurologic signs of persons with early PD. Greater cardiorespiratory fitness was shown to be corre lated with greater functional activity and ability. Such relationships highlight the impor tance of minimizing the signs of the disease and maintaining functional activity as a preliminary step to minimizing the cardiorespiratory complications common to PD.

Key Words: Aerobic exercise—Rehabilitation—Parkinson's disease—Physiotherapy.

Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair, Vol. 10, No. 4, 233-241 (1996)
DOI: 10.1177/154596839601000403
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