Effect of Exercise on Modifying Progression of Physical Symptoms in Parkinson’s Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study designs: Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis
Abstract: Purpose: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease. Emerging evidence suggests a promising treatment of combining exercise with medication. This systematic review with meta-analysis examined effect of exercise on modifying PD progression of physical symptoms. Methods: E-databases were searched to date. Randomized trials were included if they compared effect of exercise with no exercise/other exercise, and measured motor function for >=12 months. Results: Ten trials were included with eight eligible for meta-analyses. The pooled effect of exercise on UPDRS-III was a standard mean difference of 0.327 (95% CI: -0.052 to 0.707; p < 0.091). Mean difference in off-medication exceeded minimal clinically important difference. The pooled effects were 0.927 (95% CI: 0.015 to 1.839, p = 0.046) for Timed Up-and-Go, and 0.338 (95% CI: 0.022 to 0.654, p < 0.036) for PD Questionnaire-39. All findings were in favor of exercise intervention to improve patients’ motor severity and function/participation for at least 12 months. Conclusions: This study suggests that physical therapy has potential to modify progression of physical symptoms in Parkinson’s disease.
Institution: Franklin Pierce University
Language: English
Subfield: Clinical Neurology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7163298681