Resistance training reduces depressive symptoms in elderly people with Parkinson disease: A controlled randomized study

Background Depression affects up to 40% of individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD). Purpose To assess resistance training effects on the depressive symptoms of elderly PD patients. Study design A randomized control study. Methods Thirty-three patients (aged >= 60 years) were randomly divided into two groups: (a) control group: n = 16 and (b) resistance training group (RTG): n = 17. All patients with Parkinson's disease (stage 1-3 on the Hoehn and Yahr scale). The RTG, in addition to maintaining their pharmacological treatments, performed 20 weeks of resistance training. The control group maintained their pharmacological treatments. Depressive symptoms, quality of life, unified Parkinson's Disease scale, and functional capacity were evaluated in both groups. Results The RTG presented a significant reduction (P < .05) of depressive symptoms (pre = 17.9 +/- 8 score; post = 10.3 +/- 6 score; effect size: -0.48), improved quality of life (pre = 40.3 +/- 21.1 score; post = 30.2 +/- 16.8 score; effect size: -0.26), and improved UPDRS (pre = 64 +/- 34.6 score; post = 49.1 +/- 24.1 score; effect size: -0.24). No significant changes in the control group regarding depressive symptoms (pre = 18.7 +/- 5.4 score; post = 19.4 +/- 5.2 score; effect size: 0.07), quality of life (pre = 39 +/- 16.1 score; post = 40.6 +/- 15.6 score; effect size: 0.05), and UPDRS (pre = 61.1 +/- 24.3 score; post = 64.9 +/- 23.4 score; effect size: 0.08) after 20 weeks. Conclusion Resistance training reduces depressive symptoms and improves the quality of life and functionality of elderly with PD.