Maximal strength training in patients with Parkinson's disease: impact on efferent neural drive, force-generating capacity, and functional performance.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by progressive neurological deterioration, typically accompanied by reductions in skeletal muscle force-generating capacity (FGC) and functional performance. Physical activity has the potential to counteract this debilitating outcome, however, it is elusive if high-intensity strength training included in conventional treatment may improve results. Therefore, we randomly assigned 22 PD patients (74 ± 9 yr) to conventional rehabilitation with or without maximal strength training (MST) performed as leg press and chest press at ~90% of one repetition maximum (1RM), five times per week for 4 wk.