Progressive Resistance Exercise and Dystonia Pathophysiology.
University of Florida
Summary
The purpose of this research study is to investigate how the brain and motor behavior changes in individuals with dystonia in response to exercise training.
Description
Dystonia is a debilitating movement disorder. It involves involuntary muscle contractions with abnormal and repetitive movements, postures, or both. The current treatments for dystonia comprise of oral medications, botulinum toxin injections, and deep brain stimulation surgery. These treatments, despite optimal management, fail to improve symptoms in more than a third of patients and the improvements are often unpredictable. We will investigate the brain adaptation effects for progressive resistance exercise-focused cervical and shoulder training (PERFECT) in patients with focal cervical dysto…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 30–85 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * Patients have predominantly focal cervical dystonia and whose diagnosis will be confirmed by a movement disorders specialist following criteria recommended by Movement Disorders Society. * Moderate disease severity. * Are 30 to 85 years old * Are able to tolerate exercise sessions. * Reporting suboptimal clinical benefits despite receiving maximally tolerated doses of BoNT injections for the neck muscles and/or oral pharmacological therapy. Exclusion Criteria: * Participating in an alternate structured exercise program, receiving regular physical or occupational therap…
Interventions
- BehavioralProgressive resistance exercise
Patients with predominant symptoms of cervical dystonia will receive exercise training. Patients will receive progressive resistance exercise focused cervical and shoulder training (PERFECT) plus standard-of-care (SOC) therapy. Resistance training will consist of mainly muscle-strengthening exercises for the neck, shoulder and arms and a few upper trunk muscles. Resistance training will be guided by physical therapists at twice a week schedule for 6 months. These participants will also receive SOC therapy.
- BehavioralStandard of care
Subjects will receive SOC therapy only
Location
- University of FloridaGainesville, Florida