Home-based high-intensity interval training for people with Parkinson’s : The HIIT-Home4Parkinson’s Study
type: CreativeWork
description: Background Exercise, particularly of high intensity, is considered to be important for people with Parkinson’s (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, symptom exacerbation, travel logistics due to motor symptoms, expense and perceived lack of time. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is a low volume exercise modality, evinced 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. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the practicality and utility of home-based HIIT for PwP, which could potentially constitute a useful long-term exercise strategy. Methods Following a systematic review of HIIT for PwP, a new, home-based HIIT programme for PwP was developed through an iterative, co-creative process of focus groups and exercise testing. The new programme was then implemented as a 12-week randomised, controlled feasibility study incorporating process evaluation, to assess feasibility, acceptability and safety, identify potential primary and secondary outcomes, and clarify key methodological considerations for a definitive trial. Assessments included programme completion, adherence and adverse events, while potential primary outcomes included brain-derived neurotrophic factor, maximal oxygen uptake and the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale motor symptom assessment. Results A systematic review of literature 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. Co-creators then developed HIIT-Home4Parkinson’s (HH4P), a 12-week home-based HIIT programme, based on individualisation, adaptability and appropriate remote supervision. Following progr…
abstract: Background Exercise, particularly of high intensity, is considered to be important for people with Parkinson’s (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, symptom exacerbation, travel logistics due to motor symptoms, expense and perceived lack of time. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is a low volume exercise modality, evinced 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. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the practicality and utility of home-based HIIT for PwP, which could potentially constitute a useful long-term exercise strategy. Methods Following a systematic review of HIIT for PwP, a new, home-based HIIT programme for PwP was developed through an iterative, co-creative process of focus groups and exercise testing. The new programme was then implemented as a 12-week randomised, controlled feasibility study incorporating process evaluation, to assess feasibility, acceptability and safety, identify potential primary and secondary outcomes, and clarify key methodological considerations for a definitive trial. Assessments included programme completion, adherence and adverse events, while potential primary outcomes included brain-derived neurotrophic factor, maximal oxygen uptake and the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale motor symptom assessment. Results A systematic review of literature 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. Co-creators then developed HIIT-Home4Parkinson’s (HH4P), a 12-week home-based HIIT programme, based on individualisation, adaptability and appropriate remote supervision. Following progr…
author: Harpham, Conrad
language: eng
date published: 2025-01-01T08:00:00Z
date modified: 2026-07-24T03:49:27Z
provider: University of Plymouth
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: University of Plymouth