Efeitos do exercício físico sobre a função respiratória em indivíduos com doença de Parkinson

Abstract

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons located in the substantia nigra, resulting in motor and non- motor manifestations. Among the non-motor manifestations, respiratory dysfunction stands out, which appears in the early stages of the disease and is associated with an increase in lung infections and increased mortality in individuals affected by the disease. Physical exercise has proven to be an effective strategy in the treatment of PD, both for motor alterations and for its effects on respiratory function. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the global panorama of scientific publications on physical exercise in PD and to determine its effects on the respiratory function of individuals identified with PD. To this end, two independent studies were conducted: the first was a bibliometric review to characterize the global panorama of scientific production on physical exercise in PD over the last five years, identifying trends, authors, institutions, and the most productive countries. The second was a systematic literature review to analyze the effects of physical exercise-based interventions on the respiratory function of these individuals, considering variables such as respiratory muscle strength, lung volumes and capacities, and cirtometry measurements. A total of 83 studies were included, and the main findings of the bibliometric review demonstrated that the largest number of publications occurred in 2023 (22). Research related to the topic has been conducted in countries across different continents, with China (18) and Brazil (15) standing out as the largest scientific producers in the area. The keyword co-occurrence analysis identified three main approaches and a scientific gap, characterized by the absence of terms related to respiratory function in PD. Regarding the systematic review, 10 articles were included, totaling 229 participants, with a mean age of 64.42 years and a mean disease duration of 5.75 years. The results demonstrated the scarcity of studies in the area and the therapeutic potential of physical exercise on respiratory function, with positive effects on respiratory muscle strength, lung volumes, respiratory capacities, and thoracic mobility. In the studies, exercises in an aquatic environment stood out, promoting improvements in both respiratory muscle strength and lung volumes. Furthermore, the studies highlighted the importance of continuing interventions to maintain gains, as well as the need for individualized programs, adapted to the conditions and resources of each individual. The conclusion is that there is growing global interest in the relationship between physical exercise and PD and that the practice of physical exercise, in its various forms, promotes significant benefits on respiratory function in people with PD, highlighting the need to expand research into exercise programs specifically targeting respiratory function in this condition.