Feasibility Aspects of Exploring Exercise-Induced Neuroplasticity in Parkinson’s Disease: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Table 1

Descriptions of intervention and control group.

Detail	HiBalance, intervention group	HiCommunication, control group
Setting	Exercise hall	Room for group treatment
Personnel	Two physical therapists	One speech and language pathologist
Position performed	Standing and walking	Sitting
Core areas	(i) Sensory integration	(i) Voice intensity
	(ii) Anticipatory postural adjustments	(ii) Articulatory precision
	(iii) Motor agility	(iii) Word retrieval
	(iv) Stability limits	(iv) Memory
Block A, weeks 1-2	Learning exercises, focus on quality. Single-task performance of exercises pertaining to each core area	Learning exercises, improving speech technique by practicing breathing, phonation, articulation, and increased vocal loudness while maintaining good voice quality
Block B, weeks 3–6	Increased difficulty of exercises by adding cognitive and motor dual tasks	Increased difficulty of exercises by, for example, using memory games and association tasks to increase cognitive load during speech exercises
Block C, weeks 7–10	Complexity increased by combining exercises from all four focus areas and by switching between cognitive and motor dual tasks	Complexity increased by increasing difficulty of memory games, incorporating more interaction between participants, and by adding background noise
Home exercise program, performed once a week	Aerobic capacity (e.g., walking or exercise bike); Leg and core strength exercises	Relaxation and breathing exercises; Voice and speech exercises; Word and memory exercises