INTRODUCTION: Previous studies suggest that intensive physical exercise may improve motor and cognitive symptoms in Parkinson’s disease (PD); however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.

AIM(S): This study aimed to evaluate the effects of an 8-week aerobic interval training (AIT) program on clinical neurological outcomes and motor-related cortical potentials (MRCP-EEG) in patients with PD.

METHOD(S): Thirty-two patients with PD were assigned either to a training group (PD-TR, n=16), which completed an 8-week AIT program on a cycle ergometer, or to a non-trained group (PD-NTR, n=16), which continued standard treatment. Disease severity was assessed using the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) before (PRE) and after (POST) the intervention. EEG signals were recorded during a precision pinch task performed with the PD-affected limb. MRCP-EEG analysis focused on the early (BP1) and late (BP2) components of the readiness potential.

RESULTS: Following the AIT program, the PD-TR group showed significant improvements in UPDRS scores, including overall motor performance (sum of scores of UPDRS section III), manual dexterity (UPDRS 3.4 and 3.5), and overall functional status (total score of UPDRS sections I–IV). Behavioral improvements were accompanied by neurophysiological changes, specifically a significant increase in BP1 mean amplitude at the ipsilateral motor cortex. A session × group interaction and a significant difference in delta values (POST vs. PRE) were observed between PD-TR and PD-NTR groups.

CONCLUSIONS: An 8-week AIT program enhances motor performance in patients with PD, potentially through neurophysiological adaptations as evidenced by MRCP-EEG. These findings support the use of structured aerobic interval training as a complementary intervention for PD.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT: Wroclaw University of Health and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Physiotherapy, 51-612 Wrocław al. Ignacego Jana Paderewskiego 35