Grant: Undergraduate: Mobility, musculoskeletal health and arthritis - ICS

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the most common movement disorder in older adults, affecting more than 100,000 people in Canada. The symptoms associated with this disease significantly limit independence, decrease the quality of life and hinder meaningful activities. There is currently no cure for PD, and although medication can help with symptom reduction, there is no halt in the disease progression with medication use. Numerous limiting side effects are also common with medication use such as dyskinesia (uncontrollable body movements), dementia, hallucinations, and low blood pressure. With the limitations associated with medication, many researchers and patients have turned to exercise. A study conducted by Sage and Almeida (2009) identified which type of exercise was the most beneficial to PD patients. After 12 weeks of the different exercise interventions, it was found that sensory attention focused exercise (SAFEx) and strength training were the only interventions to improve disease severity and slow the progression of the disease (no decrease in disease severity was observed in aerobic, aquatic or no exercise groups). However, further investigation showed that the SAFEx intervention showed more benefits than did the strength training intervention. The objective of the proposed study is to identity if any musculoskeletal strength gains are associated with the SAFEx program. In doing this, we would be able to better understand whether the reduction in disease severity is due to a change in motor symptoms (result of motor learning) as opposed to strength gains or vice versa. The results of this study would help to facilitate the expansion of the PD SAFEx program. With a partnership with YMCA Canada, we could implement multi-site studies across Ontario, eventually expanding to the rest of Canada. With the results from thus study, the PD SAFEx program could greatly benefit those suffering with PD across Canada, increasing the quality of life of this population.