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Freezing of Gait in Parkinson's Disease

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Parkinson Disease
Registration Number
NCT01887054
Lead Sponsor
Duke University
Brief Summary

This study is designed to evaluate whether a specific visuospatial training task will change gait performance of Parkinson's disease (PD) patients in doorways, specifically freezing of gait.

Detailed Description

This study is a randomized, prospective, single-blinded six-week study in PD patients with freezing of gait (FOG).

This study will involve 2 study groups:

Group A - training group; Group B - no training group/controls.

Both groups will complete a gait evaluation and neuropsychological testing. Group A will also practice an in-home visuospatial task for 30 minutes, 4-6 days per week for six weeks. Group B will not complete the in-home tasks.

Participation in this study is expected to last 6-8 weeks.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
30
Inclusion Criteria
  • Age: greater than 18 years old and without an upper age limit
  • diagnosis of idiopathic PD exhibiting at least 2 or 3 cardinal signs (bradykinesia, rigidity, and resting tremor)
  • Ambulate independently without an assistive device for at least 60 meters
  • Freezing of gait episodes confirmed through the FOG-Q and evaluation by a fellowship trained Movement Disorder neurologist
  • Willingness and ability to participate in training and complete training diary
  • Documented FOG-Q and Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) II
  • Ability to sign informed consent
  • Pregnant females will be included in the study and there are no known risks to the pregnant female or fetus
Exclusion Criteria
  • Inability to complete questionnaires
  • Unwillingness to participate in training, complete all questionnaires and training diary
  • Subjects with secondary causes of parkinsonism
  • Significant dementia (MOCA <20)
  • Prior deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery or pallidotomy
  • Subjects cannot participate in any form of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy or Speech Therapy during the study period
  • Subjects cannot start any new medications during the study period.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Double Limb Support (DLS)6 weeks

Primary outcome will be the percent of the gait cycle spent in DLS. This will be evaluated using a GaitRite via a continuous walk, with subjects walking an 18-20 meter oval loop three times continuously.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Duke University Medical Center

🇺🇸

Durham, North Carolina, United States

Duke University Medical Center
🇺🇸Durham, North Carolina, United States

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