Exploring how people with Parkinson's disease perceive and cross obstacles while walking
Affordances and Impairments: A Paradigm for Understanding Obstacle Crossing in Parkinson's Disease
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 |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | 180 (estimated) |
| Ages | 20 Years to 80 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of Haifa Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Haifa) |
| Trial ID | NCT06932679 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
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.
Who should consider this trial
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.
Not a fit: Patients with severe visual impairments, cognitive impairments, or those experiencing freezing of gait may not benefit from this study.
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 performed: 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.
Eligibility criteria
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 this trial is running
Haifa
- 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
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.