The Efficacy of Long-term Whole-body Vibration in the Treatment of Parkinson's Disease
Overview
- Phase
- N/A
- Intervention
- Not specified
- Conditions
- Idiopathic Parkinson's Disease
- Sponsor
- Sun Life Financial Movement Disorders Research and Rehabilitation Centre
- Enrollment
- 60
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) section III
- Last Updated
- 11 years ago
Overview
Brief Summary
This study will evaluate whether whole-body vibration applied over a 12-week period is effective in treating motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease.
Detailed Description
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease resulting in the loss of dopaminergic neurons projecting from the substantia nigra pars compacta to the striatum. Whole-body vibration (WBV) is potentially beneficial in treating Parkinson's disease because it has been shown to elicit effects specific to both the brain and muscular system. Animal models of PD indicate that whole-body vibration can increase striatal dopamine levels, as well as the number of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. These findings were correlated with increased levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor. In addition to the potentially neuroplastic effects, \>20 Hz WBV has been shown to improve muscular performance. Improved muscular performance is believed to be attributed to WBV induced neuromuscular effects rather than muscle hypertrophy, with the specific mechanism defined as the tonic vibration reflex.
Investigators
Adam Koebel
Undergraduate Thesis Student
Sun Life Financial Movement Disorders Research and Rehabilitation Centre
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- •Diagnosed with idiopathic Parkinson's Disease by a Neurologist
- •Currently taking anti-Parkinsonian medication
- •Able to stand for 2 minutes without assistance
- •Able to walk 10 meters without assistance
- •Ability to understand English instructions
- •Normal or corrected vision
Exclusion Criteria
- •A neurological disease other than PD
- •recent stroke
- •cardiovascular disease
- •previous major hemorrhage
- •artificial pacemaker
- •currently pregnant
- •Current participation in any physical therapy or experimental treatments
- •Peripheral neuropathy, severe osteoporosis
- •Visual impairments that cannot be corrected
- •Clinically diagnosed with dementia
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) section III
Time Frame: change from baseline, 12 weeks, and 2 week washout
clinician monitored motor evaluation
Secondary Outcomes
- Timed Up & Go (TUG) Test(change from baseline, 12 weeks, and 2 week washout)
- Gait Assessment(change from baseline, 12 weeks, and 2 week washout)
- Timed Grooved Pegboard Task(change from baseline, 12 weeks, and 2 week washout)