Exploring how people with Parkinson's disease perceive and cross obstacles while walking
Official title: Affordances and Impairments: A Paradigm for Understanding Obstacle Crossing in Parkinson's Disease
Run by University of Haifa · NCT06932679 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how people with Parkinson's disease see and handle obstacles while walking to help find better ways to keep them safe and reduce falls.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Ages | 20 Years to 80 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 180 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University of Haifa Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Haifa) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | April 24, 2025 |
| Main results expected | April 24, 2028 |
| Study ends | June 24, 2028 |
| Registry record updated | July 22, 2025 |
| Trial ID | NCT06932679 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates include individuals aged 20 to 80 years with a confirmed diagnosis of Parkinson's disease who can walk independently without assistive devices.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with severe visual impairments, cognitive impairments, or those experiencing freezing of gait may not benefit from this study.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This observational study investigates the perception of affordances and obstacle crossing in individuals with Parkinson's disease (PwP) compared to healthy adults. Participants will perform walking tasks involving obstacle crossing in various environments while their perceptions and actual performances are assessed. The study will utilize eye-tracking technology to analyze visual exploration patterns and wearable sensors to measure gait variables. By understanding the relationship between perception, cognition, and motor performance, the study aims to inform rehabilitation strategies to reduce fall risks in PwP.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to improved rehabilitation methods that enhance safe walking and reduce fall risks for patients with Parkinson's disease.
How similar studies have gone: While previous studies have focused on gait impairments in Parkinson's disease, this approach examining affordance perception is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Participants aged 20 to 80 years. * Ability to walk independently outdoors without assistive devices. * For Parkinson's Disease (PD) group: Diagnosis of PD confirmed by medical records. * For healthy control groups: No neurological or orthopedic conditions affecting gait. Exclusion Criteria: * Feezing of gait (for PD group only), based on a score greater than 0 on the Freezing of Gait Questionnaire. * Severe visual impairment that cannot be corrected with glasses or lenses. * Cognitive impairment, defined as a score below 18 on the telephone-based Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). * Any orthopedic condition, pain, or other medical condition that may affect walking, based on self-report.
Where it's running
-
University of Haifa, Motor Performance Laboratory
Haifa, Israel Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Galit Yogev Seligmann, PhD — University of Haifa
- Study coordinator: Galit Yogev Seligmann, PhD
- Email: galit.yogev@gmail.com
- Phone: +972-53-5315761
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
-
Prevention in PD: a six-month lifestyle program for PD and RBD
This study tests whether a six-month, structured lifestyle program combining exercise, Mediterranean diet, sleep guidance, and cognitive training helps people with Parkinson’s disease or REM sleep behavior disorder stick to healthier habits.
-
PET-MRI to study the reward system in Parkinson's disease with RBD
This study uses PET‑MRI to see how dopamine-related reward pathways behave in people with Parkinson’s who also have REM sleep behavior disorder.
-
Safety and tolerability of EC5026 for people with Parkinson's Disease
This trial tests whether taking the oral drug EC5026 for 28 days is safe in adults with Parkinson's Disease, reaches the spinal fluid, and shows early signs of symptom benefit compared with placebo.
-
Personalized brain stimulation and walking exercises for freezing of gait in Parkinson's disease
This study is testing if a mix of brain stimulation and walking exercises can help people with Parkinson's disease who struggle with freezing while walking.
-
How attention and eye movements affect emotion perception in Parkinson's disease
This project will test whether deep brain stimulation changes attention, eye movements, and how people with Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, or dystonia perceive facial expressions.
-
Comparing two methods of deep brain stimulation for Parkinson's disease
This study is testing which method of deep brain stimulation—constant current or constant voltage—works better and makes people with Parkinson's disease happier after their surgery.
How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.