The primary reason for undertaking this project was to investigate the use of meditation as an additional resource for patients with Parkinson’s Disease to help manage their motor and non-motor symptoms.
Our hypothesis was that the addition of meditation to an exercise program would help reduce anxiety and improve or maintain function. We completed a pilot study with twenty-nine participants who regularly exercise at Rock Steady Boxing Northeast Pennsylvania. All participants had PD and were able to walk independently. Fourteen people participated in meditation sessions two to three times per week for six weeks after their exercise sessions. Each meditation session was ten minutes long, completed in sitting, and led by researchers using the SmilingMind meditation application (app). SmilingMind is an evidence-based free app that has been used in several other research studies worldwide. Fifteen other participants acted as controls, participating in exercise without meditation. Outcome measures included the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), 10-meter walk test (10 MWT), Timed Up and Go, Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire-39, and General Anxiety Disorders-7 (GAD-7) questionnaire.
After six weeks, there were variable changes in all outcome measures for the control and experimental groups. There was a statistically significant improvement in Self-Selected 10 MWT scores in the meditation group compared to the control group after six weeks, but no other significant differences between groups. Although there was not a statistical significance between groups for the GAD-7 score after six weeks, there was an overall greater reduction in anxiety in the meditation group.
All participants in the meditation group reported enjoying meditation. There were variable changes in all outcome measures. In a follow-up meeting, several participants reported continuing meditation after the six-week trial. It will be important to assess the effects of meditation practice for longer than six weeks to determine if the addition of a short meditation session to an exercise program reduces anxiety and associated disease progression.
More research is needed to determine if the addition of meditation has a greater impact for those with higher levels of anxiety. In addition to exercise, an app-based meditation program may help reduce anxiety and improve or maintain function in people with PD who already exercise. Using the app can make meditation readily accessible to people, allows for group or individual practice, and does not require additional training for physical therapists.
Meditation
Exercise
