MedPath

PAS Balance Training for Parkinson Disease (PD)

Not Applicable
Recruiting
Conditions
PD - Parkinson's Disease
Registration Number
NCT06598891
Lead Sponsor
Chang Gung University
Brief Summary

Gait initiation (GI) difficulty is a common problem in individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD), often linked to impaired anticipatory postural adjustments (APA). Currently, there are no targeted rehabilitation programs designed specifically for GI-related APA in PD patients. Research has shown that while motor learning deficits are common in PD, explicit learning is better preserved than implicit learning. Therefore, a GI-related APA training system using an explicit learning model could be particularly effective for this population.

During motor learning, long-term potentiation (LTP) increases the excitability of the primary motor cortex. Paired associative stimulation (PAS) has been demonstrated to induce LTP-like changes in the motor cortex, making it a potential priming method to enhance motor learning. However, the priming effect of PAS targeted at leg muscles and the motor cortex on motor learning related to GI-APA has not been previously studied.

The objectives of this study are:

1. To investigate the effects of explicit and implicit training on GI-related APA.

2. To evaluate the priming effect of PAS on GI-related APA training and the associated plasticity changes in the motor cortex.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
60
Inclusion Criteria
  • Clinical diagnosis of Parkinson disease.
Exclusion Criteria
  • Musculoskeletal injuries on legs
  • Osteoporosis.
  • Any peripheral or central nervous system injury or disease patients.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Motor Evoked Potentials (MEPs)Baseline, 4 weeks and 8 weeks

MEPs are the electrical responses recorded from muscles following stimulation of the motor cortex. They reflect the efficiency of neural transmission from the cortex to the muscle. Unit:millivolts (mV)

Balance PerformanceBaseline, 4 weeks and 8 weeks

Measured by the duration the stance or stand can be maintained. Unit:second(s)

COP Displacement in Balance TasksBaseline, 4 weeks and 8 weeks

Measures of COP movement in the anterior-posterior (AP) and medial-lateral (ML) directions, offering insights into the directional tendencies of balance control. Unit:millimeter(mm)

Intracortical Inhibition (ICI)Baseline, 4 weeks and 8 weeks

ICI is measured similarly to ICF but with a shorter inter-stimulus interval (e.g., 1-5 ms), resulting in a suppressed MEP amplitude. This suppression reflects inhibitory processes within the cortex.

Step LengthBaseline, 4 weeks and 8 weeks

The linear distance between the two ankles, typically expressed in centimeter(cm).

COP Path Length in Balance TasksBaseline, 4 weeks and 8 weeks

The total distance traveled by the COP over a specified period. Longer path lengths can indicate increased effort to maintain balance or greater instability.

Intracortical Facilitation (ICF)Baseline, 4 weeks and 8 weeks

ICF is measured by applying a pair of TMS pulses with a short interval (e.g., 8-15 ms) where the first (subthreshold) pulse is followed by a second (suprathreshold) pulse, leading to an increased amplitude of the MEP.

Walking SpeedBaseline, 4 weeks and 8 weeks

The time taken by participants to walk a standardized distance, typically expressed in centimeters per second (cm/s).

Step TimeBaseline, 4 weeks and 8 weeks

The duration taken for one complete step, measuring from foot-off of one foot to the next foot-off of the same foot, usually expressed in seconds.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
COP Velocity in Balance TasksBaseline, 4 weeks and 8 weeks

The speed at which the COP moves, calculated over the duration of the balance task. Higher velocities may reflect more dynamic balance adjustments or instability. Unit:millimeter per second(mm/s)

COP Area in Balance TasksBaseline, 4 weeks and 8 weeks

The area covered by the COP trajectory during the balance task, providing an estimate of the sway envelope. A larger area might indicate poorer balance control. Unit:square millimeter(mm\^2)

Double Support TimeBaseline, 4 weeks and 8 weeks

The portion of the gait cycle where both feet are in contact with the ground, indicating the transition phase between steps, expressed as a percentage of the gait cycle or in seconds.

Single Support TimeBaseline, 4 weeks and 8 weeks

The duration within the gait cycle when only one foot is in contact with the ground, typically measured in seconds or as a percentage of the total gait cycle.

Swing TimeBaseline, 4 weeks and 8 weeks

The portion of the gait cycle where the foot is not in contact with the ground, moving forward to the next step. It is usually expressed as a percentage of the total gait cycle or in seconds.

Stance TimeBaseline, 4 weeks and 8 weeks

The portion of the gait cycle when the foot is in contact with the ground, supporting body weight. It's typically expressed as a percentage of the total gait cycle or in seconds

CadenceBaseline, 4 weeks and 8 weeks

The number of steps an individual takes per minute, providing an overview of gait speed and rhythm, , expressed as steps per minute.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Chang Gung University

🇨🇳

Taoyuan, Taiwan

Chang Gung University
🇨🇳Taoyuan, Taiwan

MedPath

Empowering clinical research with data-driven insights and AI-powered tools.

© 2025 MedPath, Inc. All rights reserved.