Remote mental practice to help with freezing of gait in Parkinson's disease
Effects of a Remote Mental and Physical Practice Intervention on Freezing of Gait in People With Parkinson's Disease: a Randomized Controlled Trial
This study is testing if a combination of mental exercises and physical practice can help people with Parkinson's disease who struggle with freezing while walking.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 50 (estimated) |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of Sao Paulo General Hospital Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (São Paulo, São Paulo) |
| Trial ID | NCT06957405 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This trial investigates the effects of a remote intervention combining mental practice and physical practice on freezing of gait severity in individuals with idiopathic Parkinson's disease. Fifty participants will be randomly assigned to either an experimental group receiving mental and physical practice or a control group receiving only physical practice with stretching. The intervention consists of 10 video-supervised sessions over six weeks, focusing on gait-related challenges. Primary and secondary outcomes will be assessed to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention in reducing freezing of gait and improving motor and cognitive functions.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates include individuals diagnosed with idiopathic Parkinson's disease who experience freezing of gait and can walk independently at home.
Not a fit: Patients with other neurological disorders, severe cardiovascular or respiratory issues, or significant cognitive impairments may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this intervention could significantly reduce freezing of gait and enhance mobility in patients with Parkinson's disease.
How similar studies have performed: While the approach of using remote mental practice is innovative, similar studies have shown promise in improving motor functions in Parkinson's disease.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Clinical diagnosis of idiopathic PD; * Use of dopaminergic medication; * Experiencing FOG (positive response to the first question of the New Freezing of Gait Questionnaire - NFOG-Q); * Able to walk independently at home; * Access to internet and video call device; * Agree to participate in the study. Exclusion Criteria: * Other neurological disorders; * Severe cardiovascular and/or respiratory alterations; * Uncorrected visual and/or auditory alterations; * Cognitive impairment, detectable through the Telephone Montreal Cognitive Assessment (T-MoCA, \< 12); * Inability to perform motor imageryT during the administration of the Kinesthetic and Visual Imagery Questionnaire - 20 (KVIQ-20, \< 20)
Where this trial is running
São Paulo, São Paulo
- University of Sao Paulo — São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Maria Elisa P Piemonte, PT, PHD
- Email: elisapp@usp.br
- Phone: 55 11 30917451
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.