Daily Undulating Periodization Methods With Parkinson's Disease

A Comparison of Daily Undulating Periodization Methods With and Without Functional Exercises in Individuals With Parkinson's Disease

Compare periodized (cyclic) resistance training with and without motor training specific to activities of daily living.

This study will look at how well two different daily undulating training programs (hypertrophy-strength-power training, versus strength-power-functional training) improve participants' physical functions. All testing procedures will take place at the Max Orovitz Laboratory on the Coral Gables campus. This study will involve a 1-week baseline testing phase, a 2-week familiarization phase, a 9-week intervention phase, and a 1-week post-testing window where subjects must report to the lab for 2 sessions.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Hoehn & Yahr Classification of Disability, stage 1-3
• can ambulate with or without an assistive device for at least 50 feet
• able to get up and down from the floor with minimal assistance
• has a score of 24 or above on the Folstein Mini-Mental State Exam

Exclusion Criteria:

• Greater than Stage 3 on the Hoehn & Yahr Classification of Disability
• decline in immune function such as pneumonia or systemic infection
• progressive degenerative disease besides PD
• spinal fusion or other orthopedic surgery in the past six months
• mental disease/psychosis such as dementia
• greater than minimal assistance required for gait and transfers
• inability to make regular time commitments to the scheduled training sessions
• participation in resistance training on a regular basis within the past six months
• inability to provide consent
• pregnancy
• a prisoner