HIIT-Home4Parkinson's version 1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Home-based high-intensity interval training for people with Parkinson's: The HIIT-Home4Parkinson's randomised controlled feasibility study
IRAS ID
319045
Contact name
(Ivan) Conrad Harpham
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Plymouth
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 2 months, 2 days
Research summary
Parkinson’s disease (Parkinson’s) is a debilitating neurodegenerative disorder characterised by a range of motor and non-motor symptoms. Exercise, particularly of increased intensity, is considered to be an important aspect of Parkinson’s
management having been evidenced to ameliorate symptoms, and possibly provide neuroprotection. However, people with Parkinson’s (PwP) face several logistical and disease specific barriers to exercise participation including lack of time, low outcome expectation, fear of symptom exacerbation and reluctance to travel. Finding ways to facilitate exercise participation is therefore important. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is a low-volume, high-intensity exercise modality consisting of short periods of high intensity exercise interspersed with periods of rest or exercise of reduced intensity; for example, 30 seconds of high-intensity treadmill exercise followed by 30 seconds of rest, repeated for 10 minutes. Compared to traditional endurance exercise, HIIT has been evidenced to promote similar or greater physiological adaptations in healthy and clinical populations with reduced exercise volume and time commitment. HIIT therefore, particularly undertaken in the home setting, could be apposite for PwP by overcoming barriers to exercise. Whilst evidence suggests that aerobic, resistance and balance exercises can be performed safely at home by PwP, no study has been undertaken to investigate HIIT based in the home setting. Therefore, this project aims to investigate the utility and practicality of home-based HIIT by undertaking a feasibility study of a previously co-created, home-based 12-week HIIT intervention for PwP of mild-to-moderate severity with usual care control and exercise group allocation. Participants will be recruited from Parkinson's UK, local NHS Parkinson's service, Livewell Southwest and University of Plymouth (UoP) Twitter platforms. Based at the UoP, the study will last for approximately 14 months, and include a process evaluation with key patient involvement to help identify design refinements for a full trial.REC name
East of Scotland Research Ethics Service REC 1
REC reference
23/ES/0018
Date of REC Opinion
15 Jun 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion