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CURRENT RESEARCH PROJECTS

• Exercise, Physical Function, and Parkinson’s Disease.  Currently we are comparing the benefits of three different exercise interventions for people who have Parkinson’s disease. The interventions include the following:
  
  1) usual care, in which the participant performs exercises recommended by the National Parkinson’s Foundation;
  
  2) aerobic conditioning in which the participant exercises on a treadmill, bicycle, or elliptical trainer; flexibility and function in which the participant first is taught specific exercises (one- on-one with the physical therapist) to improve axial flexibility and then participates in a group exercise with exercises designed to incorporate flexibility in the context of balance and function.
  
  Participants exercise in a supervised setting for four months and then exercise on their own (with once monthly sessions) for a year. Our goal is to determine which of these three exercise approaches best improves balance, economy of movement and overall functional ability in the short run (4 months) and which exercise the participants can continue with on their own for best outcomes at 16 months.
• Effects of Vestibular rehabilitation on MS-Related Fatigue: A Randomized Control Trial. Hebert J (PI), Corboy J. 
  

LAB RESOURCES AND RESEARCH FOCUS

The Human Performance Laboratory is equipped to quantify performance of many typical daily functional tasks and activities. Included is a comprehensive physical functional performance test that quantifies performance of sixteen functional activities such as moving laundry from a washer to a dryer, climbing up steps while carrying a weighted suitcase [the steps are the same height as required to get onto a city bus], and moving a pot with weight from one counter to another. These tasks are quantified by weight, time to complete, and (in some tasks) distance covered.

FUNDED GRANTS

• National Institutes of Health: “Exercise intervention for people with Parkinson’s disease”. Schenkman M (PI), Baron A, Kohrt W, Kumar R, Schwartz R.
  2003-2007 ($1.125 million)
  

PEER-REVIEWED MANUSCRIPTS PUBLISHED IN 2007

• Hearty T, Schenkman M, Kohrt W, Cress ME.  Continuous Scale Physical Functional Performance Test:  Appropriateness for Middle Aged Adults With and Without Parkinson’s Disease  JNPT 2007;31:64-70
• Schenkman M, Hall D, Kumar R, Kohrt WM. Endurance Exercise Training to Improve Economy of Movement of People With Parkinson Disease: Three Case Reports. Phys Ther 2007. In press (Jan 2008)
• Jankowski C, Gozansky W, Van Pelt RE, Schenkman ML, Wolfe P, Relative Contributions of Adiposity and Muscularity to Physical Function in Older Adults (Obesity, In Press)

ADDITIONAL PUBLICATIONS

• Link to additional Margaret Schenkman publications

OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESEARCH VOLUNTEERS

Volunteers are needed for a research study to determine if exercise programs will improve daily function and help people with Parkinson's disease to stay active. The research study will compare three different physical therapy approaches for people with Parkinson's disease. There is no cost to participants, and you are eligible to apply if you are able to function independently.

The Principal Investigator for the study is: Margaret Schenkman, PhD, PT
COMIRB # 02-750
To see if you qualify, please contact Pam Mettler at (303) 724-1266 or via e-mail pdstudy@uchsc.edu