Improving walking for people with Parkinson's disease using metronome training
Targeted Motor Learning to Improve Gait for Individuals With Parkinson Disease
NA · University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill · NCT05864157
This study is testing if metronome-guided walking training can help people with Parkinson's disease walk better by encouraging them to take larger and faster steps.
Quick facts
| Phase | NA |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 45 (estimated) |
| Ages | 50 Years to 80 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (other) |
| Locations | 1 site (Chapel Hill, North Carolina) |
| Trial ID | NCT05864157 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This research focuses on how metronome-guided gait training can enhance walking abilities in individuals with Parkinson's disease. Participants will engage in 12 training sessions, utilizing both treadmill and overground walking with varying metronome frequencies to encourage larger and faster steps. The study will assess changes in walking patterns and brain activity through MRI scans before and after the training. The goal is to determine the effectiveness of this targeted motor learning approach in improving gait continuity.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are individuals aged 50-80 with idiopathic Parkinson's disease who can walk independently for 10 minutes.
Not a fit: Patients with severe cognitive deficits or those requiring therapist assistance for walking may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could significantly enhance walking ability and overall mobility for patients with Parkinson's disease.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown promise in using rhythmic auditory cues for gait improvement in Parkinson's patients, suggesting potential success for this approach.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * idiopathic Parkinson's disease (Hoehn and Yahr Stage 2-3) * self-report the ability to walk uninterrupted for 10 minutes both overground and on a treadmill without therapist assistance * comfortable gait speed \> 0.4 m/s and \< 1.2 m/s * normal (or corrected to normal \[i.e., hearing aid\]) hearing * deficits in gait continuity (e.g., shuffling, shortened strides, freezing, festination, bradykinesia, etc) based on observational gait analysis * Movement Disorders Society - Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS-III) item 10 ≥1 and \<3 * be on stable doses of orally-administered levodopa * age 50-80 years old Exclusion Criteria: * contraindications to MRI (e.g., metal implants, claustrophobia, etc) * cognitive deficits (Montreal Cognitive Assessment \[MoCA\] \< 26) * concurrent Physical Therapy * have undergone deep brain stimulation surgery * cannot walk without therapist assistance * uncontrolled cardiorespiratory/metabolic disease, or other neurological disorders or orthopedic injury that may affect gait.
Where this trial is running
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill — Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States (RECRUITING)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Mike Lewek, PT, PhD — Associate Professor
- Study coordinator: Mike Lewek, PT, PhD
- Email: mlewek@med.unc.edu
- Phone: 919-966-4041
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.
Conditions: Parkinson Disease, Gait, Rehabilitation