Trial Outcomes & Findings for Barre Exercise in Parkinson's (NCT NCT06203990)

Results Overview

Number of participants who attended at least 75% of the classes

Recruitment status

COMPLETED

Study phase

PHASE1

Target enrollment

13 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

12 weeks

Results posted on

2025-06-26

Participant Flow

Recruitment Period: January 2024-February 2024, Participants recruited from an academic medical center

No significant events occurred after participant enrollment. Participants were only enrolled if they met inclusion criteria.

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure	Barre Class Barre is an exercise modality that combines elements of classical ballet with strength training. Barre involves high repetitions of low impact, isometric movements, requires little to no equipment, and is highly modifiable for different fitness levels. Barre is traditionally performed in a class setting, which promotes increased social interaction and builds community. Furthermore, interventions with dance elements exhibit high adherence rates (often \> 80%).The exercises in a barre class are also performed holding on to a fixed barre or on the floor, which may address people with PD's fear of falling.
Overall Study STARTED	13
Overall Study COMPLETED	11
Overall Study NOT COMPLETED	2

Reasons for withdrawal

Withdrawal data not reported

Baseline Characteristics

Barre Exercise in Parkinson's

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure	Barre Class n=13 Participants Barre is an exercise modality that combines elements of classical ballet with strength training. Barre involves high repetitions of low impact, isometric movements, requires little to no equipment, and is highly modifiable for different fitness levels. Barre is traditionally performed in a class setting, which promotes increased social interaction and builds community. Furthermore, interventions with dance elements exhibit high adherence rates (often \> 80%).The exercises in a barre class are also performed holding on to a fixed barre or on the floor, which may address people with PD's fear of falling.
Race (NIH/OMB) Asian	0 Participants n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB) More than one race	0 Participants n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB) Unknown or Not Reported	0 Participants n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB) Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander	0 Participants n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB) Black or African American	0 Participants n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB) White	13 Participants n=5 Participants
Age, Continuous	72 years STANDARD_DEVIATION 5 • n=5 Participants
Sex: Female, Male Female	4 Participants n=5 Participants
Sex: Female, Male Male	9 Participants n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB) American Indian or Alaska Native	0 Participants n=5 Participants
Movement Disorders Society Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale Part III (MDS-UPDRS-III)	26 scores on a scale STANDARD_DEVIATION 5 • n=5 Participants

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: 12 weeks

Population: Two participants withdrew from the study during the intervention period. Attendance was calculated for the 11 participants who remained enrolled for the duration of the study.

Number of participants who attended at least 75% of the classes

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure	Barre Class n=11 Participants Barre is an exercise modality that combines elements of classical ballet with strength training. Barre involves high repetitions of low impact, isometric movements, requires little to no equipment, and is highly modifiable for different fitness levels. Barre is traditionally performed in a class setting, which promotes increased social interaction and builds community. Furthermore, interventions with dance elements exhibit high adherence rates (often \> 80%).The exercises in a barre class are also performed holding on to a fixed barre or on the floor, which may address people with PD's fear of falling.
Attendance	10 Participants

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: 12 weeks

Population: Thirteen participants enrolled in the classes. Two participants withdrew from the study during the intervention period.

Percent of participants who remained enrolled for the duration of the study

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure	Barre Class n=13 Participants Barre is an exercise modality that combines elements of classical ballet with strength training. Barre involves high repetitions of low impact, isometric movements, requires little to no equipment, and is highly modifiable for different fitness levels. Barre is traditionally performed in a class setting, which promotes increased social interaction and builds community. Furthermore, interventions with dance elements exhibit high adherence rates (often \> 80%).The exercises in a barre class are also performed holding on to a fixed barre or on the floor, which may address people with PD's fear of falling.
Retention (Study Completion)	11 Participants

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: 12 weeks

Population: All participants who completed the intervention completed the client satisfaction questionnaire.

Mean group rating on the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire, a standardized measure using Likert-scale questions to assess self-reported satisfaction of a program. Range is 1-4, higher scores indicate higher satisfaction

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure	Barre Class n=11 Participants Barre is an exercise modality that combines elements of classical ballet with strength training. Barre involves high repetitions of low impact, isometric movements, requires little to no equipment, and is highly modifiable for different fitness levels. Barre is traditionally performed in a class setting, which promotes increased social interaction and builds community. Furthermore, interventions with dance elements exhibit high adherence rates (often \> 80%).The exercises in a barre class are also performed holding on to a fixed barre or on the floor, which may address people with PD's fear of falling.
Acceptability	3.8 scores on a scale Interval 3.0 to 4.0

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: 12 weeks

Population: Two participants withdrew from the study during the intervention period. Following the intervention, one participant was not able to return for in-person balance assessment and one participant was excluded from preliminary motor trend data due to severe freezing of gait. Nine participants were analyzed for preliminary motor trends.

Mean change in total score on the Mini Balance Evaluation Systems Test (Mini-BESTest) from pre- to post-intervention. The Mini-BESTest is a brief, clinically relevant assessment of balance, scored on a scale from 0 to 28, with higher scores indicating better balance. A negative change score reflects a decline in balance performance from pre- to post-intervention.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure	Barre Class n=9 Participants Barre is an exercise modality that combines elements of classical ballet with strength training. Barre involves high repetitions of low impact, isometric movements, requires little to no equipment, and is highly modifiable for different fitness levels. Barre is traditionally performed in a class setting, which promotes increased social interaction and builds community. Furthermore, interventions with dance elements exhibit high adherence rates (often \> 80%).The exercises in a barre class are also performed holding on to a fixed barre or on the floor, which may address people with PD's fear of falling.
Balance	-0.67 scores on a scale Standard Deviation 1.58

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: 12 weeks

Population: Two participants withdrew from the study during the intervention period. Following the intervention, one participant was not able to return for in-person functional strength assessment and one participant was excluded from preliminary motor trend data due to severe freezing of gait. Nine participants were analyzed for preliminary motor trends.

Mean change in time taken to complete five sit to stand movements pre- to post- intervention, measured in seconds. Longer time indicates worse performance.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure	Barre Class n=9 Participants Barre is an exercise modality that combines elements of classical ballet with strength training. Barre involves high repetitions of low impact, isometric movements, requires little to no equipment, and is highly modifiable for different fitness levels. Barre is traditionally performed in a class setting, which promotes increased social interaction and builds community. Furthermore, interventions with dance elements exhibit high adherence rates (often \> 80%).The exercises in a barre class are also performed holding on to a fixed barre or on the floor, which may address people with PD's fear of falling.
Functional Strength	1.45 seconds Standard Deviation 3.10

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: 12 weeks

Population: Two participants withdrew from the study during the intervention period. Following the intervention, one participant was not able to return for in-person gait assessment and one participant was excluded from preliminary motor trend data due to severe freezing of gait. Nine participants were analyzed for preliminary motor trends.

Mean change in gait speed pre- to post-intervention, measured in meters/second.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure	Barre Class n=9 Participants Barre is an exercise modality that combines elements of classical ballet with strength training. Barre involves high repetitions of low impact, isometric movements, requires little to no equipment, and is highly modifiable for different fitness levels. Barre is traditionally performed in a class setting, which promotes increased social interaction and builds community. Furthermore, interventions with dance elements exhibit high adherence rates (often \> 80%).The exercises in a barre class are also performed holding on to a fixed barre or on the floor, which may address people with PD's fear of falling.
Gait	0.05 m/s Standard Deviation 0.08

Adverse Events

Barre Class

Serious events: 0 serious events

Other events: 6 other events

Deaths: 0 deaths

Serious adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Other adverse events

Other adverse events
Measure	Barre Class n=13 participants at risk Barre is an exercise modality that combines elements of classical ballet with strength training. Barre involves high repetitions of low impact, isometric movements, requires little to no equipment, and is highly modifiable for different fitness levels. Barre is traditionally performed in a class setting, which promotes increased social interaction and builds community. Furthermore, interventions with dance elements exhibit high adherence rates (often \> 80%).The exercises in a barre class are also performed holding on to a fixed barre or on the floor, which may address people with PD's fear of falling.
Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders Fall	7.7% 1/13 • Number of events 1 • From enrollment until end of post-testing, up to 17 weeks. An adverse event is any unfavorable or unintended sign (including an abnormal laboratory finding), symptom, or disease temporally associated with the use of a medical or clinical treatment or procedure that may or may not be considered related to the medical or clinical treatment or procedure.
Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders Back Pain	7.7% 1/13 • Number of events 1 • From enrollment until end of post-testing, up to 17 weeks. An adverse event is any unfavorable or unintended sign (including an abnormal laboratory finding), symptom, or disease temporally associated with the use of a medical or clinical treatment or procedure that may or may not be considered related to the medical or clinical treatment or procedure.
Cardiac disorders Dizziness Due to Low Blood Pressure	7.7% 1/13 • Number of events 1 • From enrollment until end of post-testing, up to 17 weeks. An adverse event is any unfavorable or unintended sign (including an abnormal laboratory finding), symptom, or disease temporally associated with the use of a medical or clinical treatment or procedure that may or may not be considered related to the medical or clinical treatment or procedure.

Additional Information

Gammon Earhart

Washington University in St. Louis

Phone: 314-286-1407

Email: [email protected]

Results disclosure agreements

Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
Publication restrictions are in place