Impact of an intensive outpatient rehabilitation on non-motor patients’ reported outcomes in PD: the INTENSO study

Abstract

Non-motor symptoms in Parkinson’s disease (PD) can reduce quality of life and increase disability. This historical cohort study investigated how rehabilitation intensity influences non-motor symptoms. The primary outcomes were changes in non-motor symptoms in the short and medium term. Secondary outcomes were changes in disability burden, motor symptom severity, and freezing of gait after treatment. Measurements were taken before (T0) and after treatment (T1) and 6 ± 1 months after T1 (T2). According to total training duration, 24 patients with PD were assigned to High-Intensity Training group (HIT, 1800 min) and 24 to Low-Intensity Training (LIT, less than 900 minutes). At T1, only the HIT group showed clinically significant improvements in non-motor symptoms, which were maintained at T2. In contrast, the LIT group experienced worsening disability at follow-up. Multivariate analysis revealed training intensity and baseline disability as predictors of improvement. These findings support the benefits of high intensity exercise in PD management.