N/A
Completed N=19
Kick Out Parkinson's Disease- Karate Intervention
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03555695 ↗Enrolled (actual)
19
Serious AEs
5.3%
Results posted
Oct 2023
Primary outcomePrimary: Change in Mobility as Measured by the Timed Up & Go (TUG) — 9.0 seconds — p=0.12
Summary
The benefits of exercise for general health and wellbeing in older adults are well-established. Balance exercises such as tai chi and yoga, along with resistance training, can improve or maintain physical function in older adults and enhance muscle strength. Furthermore, aerobic activity is critical for maintaining and improving cardiovascular and functional health. Noncontact boxing has recently seen a surge in popularity among individuals with Parkinson's Disease (PD), with components of both aerobic and balance exercise. While participants anecdotally note improvements in stress and physical function, this has only been minimally studied. However, drawing on this experience and the combined aerobic, balance, and mindfulness practices that comprise karate, we hypothesize that participation in structured karate programs may offer similar or greater benefits. Specifically, the aim of this study is to test whether and to what degree a community-based karate class tailored for individuals with early- to middle-stage Parkinson's Disease (PD) 1) is feasible; and 2) improves objective and patient-reported outcomes.
Outcome Measures
| Outcome | Result | p-value |
|---|---|---|
| PRIMARY Change in Mobility as Measured by the Timed Up & Go (TUG) |
9.0 | 0.12 |
| SECONDARY Change in Overall Well-being as Measured by the Patient Global Impression of Change Scale (PGIC) |
1; 1; 8; 4; 1 | — |
| SECONDARY Quality of Life - Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire Short Form (PDQ-8) |
19.3 | — |
| SECONDARY Attendance at Twice Weekly Classes |
86.7 | — |
| SECONDARY "Would You Recommend Karate Classes to Another Individual With Parkinson's Disease?" |
15 | — |
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- Subjects will be those diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease by a treating neurologist; if the subject is seen at Rush University Medical Center, this will be verified via chart review. If the subject is seen elsewhere, he or she will be asked to have their neurologist sign a form confirming the diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease and indicating the subject's HY stage (with definitions of each stage provided on the form for providers who may not be familiar with HY staging) at the most recent visit, to be sent back to the study coordinator for eligibility verification.
- English speaking
- Living within the Chicago area
- Subjects may be untreated for Parkinson's Disease, or may be taking any individual PD medication or combination thereof. Subjects may or may not have had Deep Brain Stimulation. Subjects may or may not be receiving physical or occupational therapy. Subjects will be encouraged to maintain their same medication regimen throughout the duration of the 10-week study, however if emergent issues arise requiring medication changes, the subject will not be disqualified.
Exclusion Criteria
- Subjects requiring an assistive device (cane, walker, wheelchair) or the assistance of another person in order to ambulate.
- Subjects with active psychosis or exhibiting symptoms of a severe psychiatric disorder.
- Subjects unable to commit to attending, or to travel to, two classes weekly for 10 weeks.
- Subjects previously participating in a karate or other martial arts program, including boxing programs for PD, in the past 30 days.
- Subjects with atypical parkinsonism, including Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, Multiple System Atrophy, Dementia with Lewy Bodies, Corticobasal Syndrome, drug-induced parkinsonism, vascular parkinsonism, or atypical parkinsonism not otherwise specified, according to the referring neurologist.
Data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03555695). Outcome figures and adverse-event rates are extracted automatically from the registry's posted results and are provided for clinician reference, not as a substitute for the primary publication. Informational only — not medical advice.