Parkinson Disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease that affects more than ten million people worldwide. In the United States, more than one million people are living with PD and more than 100,000 new cases are diagnosed each year.~Exercise to Ease the Burden of PD:~Exercise is an adjunct to pharmacologic therapy for PD that has been shown in many intensive research studies to help improve motor and non-motor symptoms in PD. A variety of Parkinson-specific exercise programs have been developed to help improve balance, posture, mobility, strength, endurance, speech, and/or self-help skills. These classes include various modes of exercise and different intensity levels, tailored for patients' personal characteristics and functional abilities.~Current Gaps in Knowledge and Aim:~The benefits of PD-specific exercise programs on physical function and disease-related quality of life have not been evaluated. Furthermore, many patients may not have access to PD-specific exercise programs. The proposed project addresses these gaps by exploring associations between PD-specific exercise programs and several metrics of physical function and quality of life among individuals with PD. In addition, the investigators are studying associations among overall exercise patterns, physical activity patterns, physical function, and quality of life among individuals with PD.~Study Involvement:~Participation in this study involves online surveys completed upon enrollment (i.e., baseline) and at 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 1 year, and 2 years. A family member, caregiver, or friend may help the participant complete the online surveys.
The overarching aim is to determine the benefits of Parkinson-specific exercise programs and general exercise patterns on physical function and disease-related quality of life among people with Parkinson Disease (PD). The significance of this project is that millions of individuals experience adverse consequences of PD and there is strong evidence that structured exercise programs have beneficial effects on motor function and PD-related quality of life. Participation in this study involves online surveys upon enrollment (i.e., baseline) and at 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 1 year, and 2 years.