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Training Based On Declarative Memory Cues Improved Gait In Patients With Parkinson's Disease

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Parkinson Disease
Interventions
Behavioral: Experimental Training
Behavioral: Control Training
Registration Number
NCT02600728
Lead Sponsor
University of Sao Paulo General Hospital
Brief Summary

Deficits in automatic motor control, characteristic of Parkinson's disease (PD), contribute to progressive impairment in gait performance. The use of declarative memory cues in order to promote the engagement of attention and activation of the next movement in gait may minimize the consequences of lack of automatic control. The purpose of this study is to verify the long-term efficiency of a new strategy based on declarative memory cue to improve the gait performance and independence in daily life activities (DLA) in patients with PD.

Detailed Description

Background: Deficits in automatic motor control, characteristic of Parkinson's disease (PD), contribute to progressive impairment in gait performance. The use of declarative memory cues in order to promote the engagement of attention and activation of the next movement in gait may minimize the consequences of lack of automatic control.

Objectives: To verify the long-term efficiency of a new strategy based on declarative memory cue to improve the gait performance and independence in daily life activities (DLA) in patients with PD.

Design: Parallel prospective, single blind, randomized clinical trial. Setting: Brazilian Parkinson Association. Participants: Forty-four patients with PD in stages 2-3 of disease evolution according to Hoehn and Yahr Classification Interventions: The experimental training (ET) consisted of eight gait training sessions, twice a week, using the declarative memory cues strategy (DMCS). The control training (CT) consisted of a similar gait training without DMCS.

Primary outcome measure: Gait performance in terms of speed and stride length. Secondary outcome measure: Independence in DLA according to Section II of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale.

Randomization: Participants were randomized into a control group (CG), which performed the CT, and an experimental group (EG), which performed the ET, through blinded drawing of names.

Statistical analysis: The gait performance and ADL independence before, 2 and 60 days after the end of training were compared for CG and EG using Repeated-measures analysis of variance (RM-ANOVA).

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
50
Inclusion Criteria
  • diagnosis of idiopathic Parkinson's disease according to the UK Brain Bank criteria;
  • in stage 2-3 of the disease evolution according to the Hoehn and Yahr;
  • treated with levodopa or its synergists;
  • capable to ambulate independently indoors without aid;
  • referring 5 to 15 years of education;
  • good visual and auditory acuity.
Exclusion Criteria
  • presence of other neurological (excluding PD), orthopedic or cardiopulmonary problems;
  • visual and auditory deficiency;
  • dementia [assessed by the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), cut-off 23];
  • depression [according to the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15), cut-off 6]
  • participation in other physical therapy training.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
experimental group (EG)Experimental TrainingThe experimental training (ET) consisted of eight gait training sessions, twice a week, using the declarative memory cues strategy (DMCS).
control group (CG)Control TrainingThe control training (CT) consisted of a similar gait training without DMCS.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
gait speedup to 3 months

The first primary outcome was the gait speed (m/s). Patients were asked to walk in a straight trajectory of 20 meter following the sole instruction "upon the go signal, walk as fast as possible at the line and stop". The speed was calculated based on the time to walk 20 meters timed using a digital chronometer.

stride length on gaitup to 3 months

The second primary outcome was the stride length (cm) on gait. Patients were asked to walk in a straight trajectory of 20 meter following the sole instruction "upon the go signal, walk as fast as possible at the line and stop". The number of steps was measured using a pedometer.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Independence in activities of daily living (ADL)up to 3 months

The secondary outcome was independence in activities of daily living (ADL), assessed by Section II of the Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS-II). This section includes 12 questions (items 5 to 16) on patient's performance in ADL. Among these questions, two investigate gait performance (frequent fall due to freezing; inability to walk ), with scores ranging from zero (normal) to 4.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Department of Physiotherapy, Communication Science & Disorders, Occupational Therapy, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo

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São Paulo, Brazil

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