OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of a high-intensity exercise therapy using sensorimotor and visual stimuli on non-demented Parkinson's disease (PD) patients' clinical symptoms, mobility, and standing balance. DESIGN: Randomized clinical intervention, using a before-after trial design. SETTING: University hospital setting. PARTICIPANTS: 72 PD patients with Hoehn-Yahr stage of 2 to 3, of whom 64 were randomized, and 55 completed the study. INTERVENTION: PD patients were randomly assigned to a no physical intervention control (n = 20 of 29 completed, 9 withdrew before baseline testing) or to a high-intensity agility program (15 sessions, 3 weeks, n = 35 completed). MAIN OUTCOMES: Primary outcome was the MDS-UPDRS M-EDL. Secondary outcomes were: Beck depression score, PDQ-39, EQ5D VAS, Schwab and England Activities of daily living scale, timed up and go test, and 12 measures of static posturography. RESULTS: The agility program improved MDS-UPDRS M-EDL by 38% compared with the 2% change in control (group by time interaction, p = 0.001). Only the intervention group improved in PDQ-39 (6.6 points), depression (18%), EQ5D VAS score (15%), the Schwab and England ADL score (15%), the TUG (39%), and in 8 of 12 posturography measures by 42 to 55% (all p < 0.001). The levodopa equivalent dosage did not change. CONCLUSION: A high-intensity agility program improved non-demented, stage 2 to 3 PD patients' clinical symptoms, mobility, and standing balance by functionally meaningful margins at short-term follow-up.

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