Session Information
Date: Tuesday, June 6, 2017
Session Title: Therapy in Movement Disorders
Session Time: 1:45pm-3:15pm
Location: Exhibit Hall C
Objective: To assess if exercise counseling during appointments translates to knowledge or action in PD patients
Background: Aerobic activity can improve motor function, mood, cognition, and may have a neuroprotective role in PD. The American College of Sports Medicine recommends 150 minutes/week of aerobic activity in older adults, in addition to strengthening, balance work, and stretching.
Methods: Follow-up patients with PD in a Movement Disorders Center (MDC) were identified through medical record review. Participants completed a survey which required recording exercise performed over the previous week. T-tests and Wilcoxon-rank-sum for continuous variables and chi square tests for categorical variables were performed to compare the groups who recorded ≥ 150 minutes of aerobic activity (AA) vs. those who did not (iAA).
Results: 103 patients were asked to complete the survey, 86 (83%) patients (29 women, 60 men; mean age 68.2 years-old) returned the survey and 63 (61%) patients completed the exercise table. Of the 63 patients who completed exercise calendars, 18 recorded ≥ 150 minutes of aerobic activity (28.6%).There was no statistical difference between AA vs iAA when comparing age, disease duration, co-morbidities, BMI, UPDRS motor score (“old version”), Hoehn & Yahr score, assisted device use, and external or personal barriers. There was a trend for women to meet minimum aerobic requirements (44% AA vs 22% iAA, p=.08). Thirty-six percent of patients reported no counseling. There was no difference (AA vs iAA) in the perceived amount of time spent receiving counseling. More AA patients sought outside sources of education (89% vs 70%, p=.19)
Conclusions: In a MDC where exercise is routinely counseled, < 1/3 of patients complied with aerobic recommendations and ~ 1/3 did not recall receiving counseling. Perceived counseling did not influence whether recommended aerobic requirements were met. Routine office counseling may be an insufficient strategy for compliance. Alternative or enhanced counseling strategies should be pursued.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
J.Y. Park, V. Shanker. Patients’ Perspective of Physicians’ Counseling on Exercise in Parkinson’s Disease (PD) [abstract]. Mov Disord. 2017; 32 (suppl 2). https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/patients-perspective-of-physicians-counseling-on-exercise-in-parkinsons-disease-pd/. Accessed June 14, 2025.« Back to 2017 International Congress
MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/patients-perspective-of-physicians-counseling-on-exercise-in-parkinsons-disease-pd/