This pilot study aimed to identify the effects of a 6-month, multimodal exercise program on clinical and gait parameters in patients with Parkinson's disease. Two groups of participants were enrolled in the study: Trained Group (TG) and Control Group (CG). Individuals in the TG exercised three times a week for 24 weeks (in a multimodal exercise program), while the CG participants maintained their regular activity level. Participants in both the TG and the CG were assessed at pre- and posttest by clinical rates and the spatiotemporal parameters of self-paced walking. The two groups were not significantly different in demographic, clinical, and gait data at baseline. There were no significant differences between groups for clinical data at posttest. The purposed multimodal exercise program has found improvement in some kinematic gait parameters for the TG. Further study in the form of randomized controlled trial would be required to establish effectiveness of the intervention.

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Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative and progressive disease marked by the presence of motor and non-motor symptoms, as psychological and cognitive impairment. Physical exercises have been prescribed as complementary therapy for PD, and the type of intervention and duration of the intervention should be taken into account. Objective: We aimed to compare the effect of different exercise modalities (functional mobility, multimodal and cognitive) and length (4 and 8 months) on psychological and cognition in people with PD. This study followed the CONSORT extension for non-pharmacological trials. Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, we assessed 107 participants between 2011 and 2013. At the end of 3 years, participants with PD (mild to moderate stages) who achieved the criteria were assessed considering 3 different groups of exercise: Multimodal (n = 38), Functional Mobility (n = 33) and Mental/Leisure (n = 36). All 3 interventions were performed for 32 weeks, twice a week, with 60 min for each session (64 sessions in total). Psychological and cognitive function were assessed at baseline and after 4 and 8 months. Results: The Functional Mobility and Mental/Leisure training had a potential effect on maintaining cognitive function (executive function, attention and work memory). The Multimodal training did not show a benefit for cognitive features and was not even able to delay the progressive decline in cognitive functions; however, this modality had a positive effect on physical stress after 8 months of exercise. Conclusions: An intervention that requires high complexity and specific activities, such as locomotor and cognitive exercise, provides a maintenance effect against the degeneration in cognition associated with the progression of PD and thus can delay the progressive decline in cognitive function in PD.

Abstract-The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of different exercise programs on the psychological and cognitive functions in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Forty-five patients with PD participated in the study. The participants were randomized in three intervention programs: Group-1 (n=15, cognitive-activities), Group-2 (n=15, multimodal exercise) and Group-3 (n=15, exercises for posture and gait). The clinical, psychological and cognitive functions were assessed before and after 4 months of intervention. Univariate analysis did not reveal significant interactions between groups and time (p>0.05). However, univariate analysis for time revealed differences in stress level and memory. Participants showed less physical stress (p<0.01) and overall stress (p < 0.04) and higher performance in episodic declarative memory (p < 0.001) after exercise. These findings suggest that group work with motor or non-motor activities can improve cognitive and psychological functions of patients with PD. Keywords: exercise, psychological functions, cognitive functions. Parkinson's diseaseResumo-"Efeito de diferentes programas de exercício sobre as funções psicológicas e cognitivas das pessoas com doença de Parkinson." O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar o efeito de diferentes programas de exercício físico nas funções psicológicas e cognitivas em pacientes com doença de Parkinson (DP). Participaram do estudo 45 pacientes com DP, distribuídos aleatoriamente em três programas de intervenção: Grupo-1 (n=15, atividades cognitivas), Grupo-2 (n=15 exercício multimodal) e Grupo-3 (n=15, exercícios para a postura e a marcha). As funções clínicas, psicológicas e cognitivas foram avaliadas antes e após 4 meses de intervenção. A análise univariada não revelou interação significativa entre grupo e momento (p>0,05). No entanto, a análise univariada para momento revelou diferenças no nível de estresse e memória. Os participantes mostraram redução do estresse físico (p<0,01) e estresse global (p<0,04) e melhora na memória declarativa episódica (p<0,001) após a intervenção. Estes achados sugerem que o trabalho em grupo, com atividades motoras ou não motoras, pode melhorar as funções cognitivas e as condições psicológicas de pacientes com DP. Palavras-chaves: exercício, funções psicológicas, funções cognitivas, doença de ParkinsonResumen-"Efecto de los diferentes programas de ejercicios en las funciones psicológicas y cognitivas de las personas con enfermedad de Parkinson." El objetivo del estudio fue analizar el efecto de diferentes programas de ejercicios en las funciones cognitivas y psicológicas en pacientes con enfermedad de Parkinson (EP). Cuarenta y cinco pacientes con EP que fueron divididos aleatoriamente en tres intervenciones: Grupo-1 (n=15, actividades cognitivas), Grupo-2 (n=15 ejercicio multimodal) y Grupo-3 (n=15, ejercicios para la postura y la marcha). Las funciones clínicas, psicológicas y cognitivas fueron evaluadas antes y después de 4-meses de intervención. Análisis univariante reveló interacción signific...

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