APA and PAS Training for Gait Initiation in Parkinson's Disease

Chang Gung University

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Parkinson Disease

Treatments: Procedure: Paired associative stimulation; Other: Weight shift training and APA feedback

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06363071

202000495A3

Details and patient eligibility

About

Our research focused on understanding the interplay between brain excitability and balance function in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), alongside evaluating effective physical therapy methods. It highlights the prevalence of non-motor disorders and cognitive impairments among PD patients, including balance and postural issues, cognitive function decline, and gait instability. Additionally, it notes that PD patients exhibit abnormal electrophysiological responses, indicating altered central excitability.

Full description

Research on Brain Excitability and Balance Function Performance in Patients with Parkinson's Disease and Related Physical Therapy Methods

Research indicates that non-motor disorders and cognitive impairments are prevalent in most patients with Parkinson's disease. These include balance issues, postural instability, impaired cognitive functions like working memory and executive functions, and gait instability. Additionally, electrophysiological phenomena in Parkinson's disease patients reveal abnormal central excitatory and inhibitory responses compared to healthy individuals.

This experiment seeks to investigate the link between motor performance and brain excitability in patients with Parkinson's disease. Previous studies suggest that associative electrical stimulation, used to regulate sensorimotor information integration, can enhance brain excitability in both healthy individuals and those with Parkinson's disease. However, the optimal parameters for this stimulation remain uncertain.

Furthermore, balance exercise training can improve motor performance in Parkinson's disease patients. This study aims to determine if various designs of associative electrical stimulation parameters can help these patients achieve optimal brain excitability regulation. The combined approach of this stimulation and balance exercise training aims to maintain and improve the patients' functional performance, thereby enhancing the safety of their daily activities.

Enrollment: 100 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 20+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Health subjects:

Exclusion Criteria:

• Musculoskeletal injuries on legs.
• Osteoporosis.

PD subjects:

Inclusion Criteria:

• Clinical diagnosis of Parkinson disease.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Musculoskeletal injuries on legs
• Osteoporosis.
• Any peripheral or central nervous system injury or disease patients.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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100 participants in 5 patient groups

Stage 1:Healthy people

Experimental group

Description:

To establish PAS baseline and reliability.

Treatment:

Procedure: Paired associative stimulation

Stage 2:PD people

Experimental group

Description:

To establish stage 3 training protocol.

Treatment:

Procedure: Paired associative stimulation

Stage 3:PD people

No Intervention group

Description:

Control group.

Stage 3: PD APA training group

Experimental group

Description:

Weight shift training and APA feedback.

Treatment:

Other: Weight shift training and APA feedback

Stage 3:PD PAS group

Experimental group

Description:

Using PAS to regulate brain plasticity

Treatment:

Procedure: Paired associative stimulation