Category: Parkinson’s Disease: Clinical Trials
Objective: This study aims to evaluate the practicality and utility of a novel, co-created home-based high-intensity interval training (HIIT) programme for people with Parkinson’s (PwP).
Background: Exercise, particularly of high intensity, is considered to be important for people with PwP. However, PwP are less active than healthy individuals, and face disease specific and logistical barriers to exercise participation such as lack of outcome expectation, travel logistics due to motor symptoms, expense and lack of time. HIIT is a low volume exercise modality, evidenced to be beneficial and time efficient for people within various healthy and clinical populations. HIIT therefore, particularly undertaken in the home could be apposite for PwP, although evidence is currently limited.
Method: Following a systematic review of HIIT trials for PwP, an iterative, co-creative process was undertaken to develop a novel home-based HIIT programme. The co-created programme was then undertaken within an ongoing 12-week randomised, controlled feasibility study with clinical, physiological and mechanistic sub-components to evaluate feasibility, safety and utility. Feasibility assessments included completion and adherence, while outcomes included cardiorespiratory fitness and levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor. Process evaluation with qualitative aspect will be undertaken to elucidate key methodological considerations for a future definitive trial.
Results: Systematic literature review indicated supervised HIIT in clinical settings to be feasible, safe and useful for some PwP of mild-to-moderate disease severity, although extended adherence appeared to be problematic. Clinicians, PwP, family members and academic researchers then developed HIIT-Home4Parkinson’s (HH4P), a 12-week home-based HIIT programme based on individualisation, adaptability and suitable remote supervision. Thirteen PwP (exercise n=7, control n=6) are currently undertaking the HH4P randomised controlled feasibility study, set to be completed in April 2024.
Conclusion: Results from HH4P will inform the potential development and implementation of a definitive, fully powered home-based HIIT trial with long-term follow-up. This could provide further evidence regarding the practicality and utility of extended participation in home-based HIIT for PwP.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
C. Harpham, L. Connolly, H. Gunn, J. Marsden. The HIIT-Home4Parkinson’s study [abstract]. Mov Disord. 2024; 39 (suppl 1). https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/the-hiit-home4parkinsons-study/. Accessed May 14, 2025.« Back to 2024 International Congress
MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/the-hiit-home4parkinsons-study/