Feasibility and Effects of a Pickleball Program for People With Parkinson Disease

Completed · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Parkinson Disease

In brief

Pickleball is a fast-growing sport that has been shown to improve social integration, life satisfaction, function, and cognitive function in older adults. Parkinson disease is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by bradykinesia, rigidity, tremors, and postural instability. Exercise has been shown to improve physical and cognitive function in people with Parkinson disease (PD). The purpose of this study is to assess if a community pickleball program can be a feasible and effective for people living with PD.The primary aim of this study is to assess the feasibility of a group pickleball program for people with PD. Secondary aims is to assess the effects of a 6-week pickleball exercise program on balance, gait, cognition, upper extremity function, pain, and quality of life in people with PD. This will be a pre-test, post-test single-group, prospective, mixed-methods study with 1- month follow-up. Sixteen participants will be enrolled in a 6-week pickleball program, at a frequency of twice a week for one hour each session. Feasibility will be assessed by retention rates, adherence rates, resources, and number of adverse events. Quantitative data to be collected will include the Mini-BESTest, gait and body posture variables, Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire-8, the Shirt-Buttoning Task, 9 Hole Peg Test, grip strength, PD-Pain Classification System, and the National Institutes of Health Toolbox Cognition Battery. Additionally, participants will be scheduled for small semi-structured focus group interviews to gain qualitative data about their experiences of the program. It is hypothesized that a pickleball program for people living with PD will be a feasible activity and will result in improvements in balance, gait, cognition, upper extremity function, and quality of life. Additionally, it is hypothesized that participants will have a favorable opinion on the activity.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT05994508

Run by

Midwestern University

People needed

16

Starts

2024-01-12

Expected to finish

2024-07-30

Last updated by the study team

2025-06-26

Who can join

Age: 18 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Diagnosis of idiopathic Parkinson disease
• Able to walk without an assistive device
• Able to tolerate 45 minutes of activity with occasional seated rest

You may not qualify if…

• Diagnosis of any other neurologic disorder
• Any current illness, injury, or cognitive function that would prevent ability to perform the study tasks
• Not regularly participating in pickleball (less than 3 times a month)

Where it is running

• Creighton University — Phoenix, Arizona, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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