The Effects of Dual Task Training in Individuals With Parkinson's Disease

NeuroTherapia, Inc.

Status: Completed

Conditions: Parkinson's Disease

Treatments: Behavioral: Dual Task Group; Behavioral: Single Task Group

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02538029

15-1000

Details and patient eligibility

About

The primary aim of the proposed project is to characterize dual tasking (DT) deficits to improve motor, cognitive, and quality of life outcomes in individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD). Phase 1 of the intervention will involve an in-depth gait analysis on 15 individuals with PD. This gait analysis will utilize the Computer Assisted Rehabilitation Environment (CAREN) system, a virtual reality system with a fully integrated 3-D motion capture system. The purpose of Phase 1 is to generalize characteristics of gait and postural control during specific DT conditions. Phase 2 (N=20) involves the clinical translation of these findings. This phase will involve creating a clinical intervention based on the objective information gathered the CAREN system. The intervention will take place 3x/week for a total of 8 weeks. Interventional groups will include: 1) DT clinical group (N=10) and 2) Single task group (N=10). Outcome measures will be used at the beginning and end of the intervention to assess the feasibility and efficacy of the intervention.

Enrollment: 45 patients

Sex: All

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Clinical diagnosis of idiopathic PD
• Able to provide informed consent
• Ability to ambulate ≥ 300ft with or without an assistive device
• Hoehn and Yahr stage 2-4

Exclusion criteria

• Undergone any surgical procedure for the treatment of PD, such as deep brain stimulation
• Those who are considered to be high risk exercisers per American College of Sports Medicine exercise screening questionnaire
• Musculoskeletal injury or neurological injury other than PD that would restrict physical activity
• Inability to follow 2 step commands
• Significant cognitive impairment as designated by ≥ 3 errors on the Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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45 participants in 2 patient groups

Dual Task Group

Experimental group

Description:

This group will complete an exercise intervention that involves performing dual tasking activities (simultaneously performing 2 things at once). This group will exercise 3x/wk for 8 weeks.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Dual Task Group

Single Task Group

Active Comparator group

Description:

This group will complete an exercise intervention that involves performing single task activities. The participant will perform motor tasks and cognitive tasks individually. This group will exercise 3x/wk for 8 weeks.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Single Task Group