Article

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of cycloergometric interval training on
parkinsonian rigidity, relaxed biceps brachii muscle tone in affected upper
extremities, and serum level of brain-derived neurotrophic factor. DESIGN: Case
series, repeated-measures design, pilot study. SUBJECTS/PATIENTS: Eleven patients
with mild-to-moderate Parkinson's disease (Hoehn & Yahr scale 2.3 +/- 0.72),
recruited from a neurological clinic, underwent cycle training and were tested
along with non-trained, healthy control subjects (n = 11) in a motor control
laboratory. METHODS: Patients underwent 8 weeks of interval training (3 x 1-h
sessions weekly, consisting of a 10-min warm-up, 40 min of interval exercise, and
10-min cool-down) on a stationary cycloergometer. Parkinsonian rigidity (Unified
Parkinson's Disease-Rating-Scale) in the upper extremity, resting biceps brachii
muscle tone (myometric stiffness and frequency), and brain-derived neurotrophic
factor level were measured 1-3 days before interval training cycle started and
6-10 days after the last training session. RESULTS: Training resulted in a
decrease in rigidity (p = 0.048) and biceps brachii myometric muscle stiffness (p
= 0.030) and frequency (p = 0.006), and an increase in the level of brain-derived
neurotrophic factor (p = 0.035) relative to pre-training values. The increase in
brain-derived neurotrophic factor level correlated with improvements in
parkinsonian rigidity (p = 0.025), biceps brachii myometric stiffness (p = 0.001)
and frequency (p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: Training-induced alleviation of
parkinsonian rigidity and muscle tone decrease may be associated with
neuroplastic changes caused by a training-induced increase in the level of
brain-derived neurotrophic factor.

Langue : ANGLAIS