Velocity-Based And Traditional Strength Training Improve Neuromuscular Performance And Functionality In Persons With Parkinson’s Disease.

Traditional strength training (TST) dictates exercise progression by completion of a designated number of repetitions, while velocity-based training (VBT) uses velocity loss thresholds (VLT) to prescribe load changes. PURPOSE: To compare the effects of TST and VBT at a 30% VLT on functional capacity, strength, and power in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). METHODS: Nineteen subjects with PD were randomly assigned to 12 weeks of TST or VBT. Prior to and after the training intervention, subjects completed the 10-meter walk test at maximal and habitual (10MWTHab) gait speed, the 5 times sit-to-stand (5XSTS), timed up-and-go (TUG), and a seated medicine ball throw (SMBT) with a 6 kg ball. Strength (1RM) and peak power (PP) assessments were completed on HUR pneumatic chest-press (CP) and leg-press (LP) machines (HUR Inc, Park Ridge, IL, USA). RESULTS: After the 12-week training period, separate 2 x 2 repeated measures ANOVAs revealed a main effect for time for the 10MWTHab (MDiff±SE = 0.07 ± 0.03 m·s-1; p = .045), 5XSTS time to completion (-1.16 ± 0.52 s; p = .040) and power (65.3 ± 21.6 W; p = .008), TUG (-0.44 ± 0.16 s; p = .015), and SMBT distance (.171 ± 0.06 m; p = .014). Significant improvements for the sample were also seen for CP (4.59 ± 0.74 kg; p < .001) and LP (16.59 ± 3.22 kg; p = <.001) 1RM. Significant main effects were found for CP-PP (37.22 ± 10.02 W, p = .002), but not for LP-PP. Separate 2 x 2 x 5 (group x time x load) ANOVAs revealed a significant main effect for time for CP-PP across percent loads (F (1,16) = 10.013, p = .006, ηp2 = .385) with preferential power improvements in the VBT group from 40-70%. For LP-PP across percent loads, a main effect for time was seen (F (1,17) = 5.597, p = .030, ηp2 = .139) with pairwise comparisons indicating significant improvements at 60% (98.90 ± 35.21 W; p = .012, d = .21), 70% (82.75 ± 37.49 W; p = .041, d = .21) and 80% 1RM (91.45 ± 38.93 W; p = .031, d = .24) specific to the VBT group. CONCLUSIONS: VBT and TST are equally effective training methods for improving functional capacity, strength, and power in older adults with PD. However, VBT may induce more favorable upper- and lower-limb power improvements at the velocity end of the load-velocity spectrum where neuromuscular declines are most noticeable in persons with PD.