Feasibility of a Barre Exercise Intervention for Individuals with Mild to Moderate Parkinson Disease

Introduction: In conjunction with medication, exercise is key for managing Parkinson disease (PD) related motor symptoms. Barre is an exercise modality that combines elements of classical ballet with strength training, involving high repetitions of low impact movements. Barre is accessible and may address documented barriers to exercise for people with PD such as fear of falling, lack of enjoyment, and lack of social support. To our knowledge, there is no previous literature on the effects of barre for PD. Therefore, this study aims to test the feasibility and acceptability of a novel barre exercise intervention. Methods: Individuals with mild to moderate PD were recruited to participate in a barre exercise class. The intervention consisted of twice-weekly, 45-minute group exercise classes for 12 weeks. Feasibility benchmarks included attendance, retention, and acceptability. Balance, gait, and functional strength assessments were carried out pre- and post-intervention to explore preliminary motor trends. Participants also completed a quality of life survey and a qualitative exit interview. Results: Eleven individuals completed the intervention. All three feasibility benchmarks were met. Participants had high attendance (70-100% of classes offered), high retention (84.6%), and reported that the class quality was excellent and generally met their needs. While most motor outcomes changed little pre- to post-intervention, gait outcomes (speed, distance on 2MWT) did improve. Exit interview themes surrounding what participants liked best about the program included comradery, support, and that the class was specific to PD, with 82% of participants indicating that they would re-enroll if the class was offered in a community setting. Conclusion: Engaging in barre exercise may be a safe, feasible way to meet exercise guidelines for PD. Future controlled studies should explore the clinical efficacy of barre for improving balance, gait, and functional strength in larger samples.