People with Parkinson’s are being asked to throw medicine balls, haul kettlebells, and sprint on rowing machines to see whether high-intensity functional training can become a standard NHS-adjacent treatment option. Parkinson’s is the second most common neurodegenerative condition worldwide, and while exercise is known to help, no one has settled on the best type, dose, or frequency. This study tests whether High Intensity Functional Training—the kind of workout delivered by CrossFit and PD Warrior coaches in community gyms—is feasible and acceptable for people with the disease. Fifty-six participants will be randomly assigned to either 12 weeks of supervised HIFT sessions or a control group, with researchers tracking recruitment, adherence, safety, and symptom changes. If the training proves practical and popular, the team will use these results to design a full-scale trial of clinical and cost effectiveness. Success could give people with Parkinson’s a new, widely accessible exercise option that meets UK physical activity guidelines and might slow symptom progression—without requiring new NHS infrastructure, because the coaches and venues already exist.
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Research Question Is High Intensity Functional Training feasible and acceptable for people with Parkinson s? Background Parkinson s is the second most common neurodegenerative condition worldwide, with prevalence rising alongside an ageing population. Despite this, there is no cure, and treatment options include pharmacological interventions often with side-effects such as dyskinesias. Currently, exercise is a safe, effective, and potentially disease-modifying adjunct which has been explored but without definitive conclusions on optimal type, dose, and frequency. High Intensity Functional Training is a combination of aerobic, resistance, and other exercise modalities conducted at high intensity relative to an individual. It has been shown in limited pilot studies in Parkinson s to have potential to reduce severity of symptoms, improve function and mobility, and could potentially impact on disease progression. It is delivered by providers such as CrossFit and PD Warrior, through existing non-NHS infrastructure by highly trained exercise professionals in multiple locations throughout the UK. It could provide people with Parkinson s an additional option for exercise which is effective, safe, and accessible, and can help meet current guidance for Physical Activity for Adults set by the UK s Chief Medical Officer. Aims and Objectives This project aims to investigate whether High Intensity Functional Training (HIFT) is acceptable, feasible, and safe for people with Parkinson s. The outcomes of this project will inform the feasibility of undertaking a definitive RCT to establish the clinical and cost effectiveness of this intervention. We will determine: The feasibility of HIFT as an intervention for people with Parkinson s The acceptability of HIFT in this population The experience of participation in this project Variations in experiences across differing sex, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status and other demographics, and influence of these factors on participation in HIFT Methods We will undertake a randomised controlled feasibility study recruiting 56 participants across an intervention (n=37) and control group (n=19) (2:1 ratio). The intervention group will attend ≥2 sessions of HIFT a week over 12 weeks. Outcomes measured will be: Recruitment, adherence, and retention Acceptability of the treatment arms and trial methods to participants Barriers and facilitators to participation Clinical outcomes including Parkinson s motor and non-motor symptoms Timelines for delivery The project will be delivered over 30 months. After study set-up and obtaining HRA approval (including ethics approvals), recruitment will take place over 5 months, with interventions being completed by month 16. Qualitative interviews, data collection, cleaning and analysis will be completed by month 23. Final reports and publications will be completed with dissemination by month 27, and the final 4 months of the project will be dedicated to study closedown procedures and preparation of a funding application for a definitive RCT. Anticipated Impact and Dissemination The main aim of the project is to determine the feasibility of a definitive RCT, and the findings of this project will inform the optimum study design. We will produce accessible summaries of our findings for dissemination through conferences, charity events, and social media. These will also be shared with study participants directly. We will publish our results in a peer-reviewed journal.
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