How walking skills transfer from split-belt treadmill to overground walking in Parkinson's

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

Researchers will apply repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) to the posterior parietal cortex (PPC) and compare active versus sham stimulation effects on gait transfer in people with Parkinson's. Participants visit the lab three times: the first for clinical assessments and to map TMS targets and thresholds, and two further visits at least 48 hours apart for crossover rTMS-active and rTMS-sham sessions. On each intervention day they perform pre-overground walking and split-belt treadmill (SBT) adaptation tests, have cortical excitability measured with a dual-coil setup, receive rTMS or sham, then complete 30 minutes of SBT training while gait parameters are recorded before and after. The primary comparison is the change in gait measures from pre- to post-intervention between the active and sham conditions to determine whether PPC upregulation improves transfer of treadmill-adapted walking to overground walking.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

* a confirmed diagnosis of idiopathic Parkinson's disease
* absence of freezing of gait confirmed by a "No" answer to the second item of the New Freezing of Gait Questionnaire (NFOGQ) and no observation of FOG during a freezing provoking test
* no other neurological diagnosis
* no severe musculoskeletal/orthopedic or vestibular condition that interferes with walking and or significantly affects balance
* no mild cognitive impairment (Montreal Cognitive Assessment ≥ 25)
* able to walk independently and without assistive device for 30 minutes
* no previous experience with split-belt treadmill.

Exclusion Criteria:

* severe dyskinesia that interacts with walking and balance hearing or visual impairment
* observed inability to walk safely on a tied-belt treadmill
* neurological disorders other than PD or other pathology (e.g., orthopedic) interfering with mobility. - contradiction for TMS
* implanted deep brain stimulator.

Where it's running

• McGill University - Currie Gymnasium
  Montreal, Quebec, Canada Recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Caroline Paquette, PhD — McGill University
• Study coordinator: Tomoha Ogawa, BA
• Email: hbcl@mcgill.ca
• Phone: 514-398-2488

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How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.