Parkinson’s disease affects more than 10 million people worldwide. Evidence suggests that exercise markedly improves the quality of life for those with the condition. A recent study found that different exercise training intensities have varied effects on symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.

Researchers randomly assigned 29 people with Parkinson’s disease to either 10 weeks of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) or moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT). They measured the participants' change in maximal oxygen consumption (VO2peak, a measure of cardiorespiratory fitness) and changes in their motor symptoms, fatigue, cardiovascular measures, gait, balance, strength, and endurance.

They found that exercise training increased the participants' VO2peak, especially among those in the HIIT group. Participants' motor symptoms improved over time, but with little difference between the two groups. Both groups reported less fatigue, but their gait, balance, blood pressure, and heart rate did not change. Participants' strength increased similarly in both groups, but only the HIIT group showed increased muscular endurance.

These findings suggest that high-intensity interval training and moderate-intensity continuous training effectively improve cardiorespiratory fitness and reduce motor symptoms and fatigue in people with Parkinson’s. However, HIIT may provide additional benefits, such as greater improvements in VO2peak and increased muscular endurance. Learn more about exercise as a treatment for Parkinson’s disease in this episode featuring Dr. Giselle Petzinger.