Understanding motor control in people with Parkinson's disease

Online Motor Control in People With Parkinson's Disease

Not applicable Interventional University of Delaware · NCT04616508

This study is testing how well people with Parkinson's disease can adjust their reaching movements in a virtual reality setting when faced with different challenges.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment100 (estimated)
Ages18 Years to 85 Years
SexAll
SponsorUniversity of Delaware Academic / other
Locations1 site (Newark, Delaware)
Trial IDNCT04616508 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study investigates how individuals with Parkinson's disease control their reaching movements in response to various environmental changes. Participants will engage in assessments within a virtual reality setup to evaluate their ability to make online movement corrections. The research aims to fill the knowledge gap regarding the effectiveness of these corrections in response to visual and force perturbations. By examining these aspects, the study seeks to enhance our understanding of motor control challenges faced by people with Parkinson's disease.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates include adults aged 18-85 with a diagnosis of idiopathic Parkinson's disease who are currently on dopaminergic medication.

Not a fit: Patients with chronic upper extremity musculoskeletal conditions or other neurological disorders may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to improved therapeutic strategies for enhancing motor control in patients with Parkinson's disease.

How similar studies have performed: While some studies have explored motor control in Parkinson's disease, the specific focus on online movement corrections in response to perturbations is relatively novel.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria (all participants):

* Age 18-85 years
* Able to perform reaching movements of \~20 cm (8 inches)
* MMSE score ≥ 26/30
* Willing and able to attend all testing sessions

Inclusion criteria (PD group only):

* Diagnosis of idiopathic Parkinson's disease per self report
* Currently taking dopaminergic/dopamine agonist medication

Exclusion criteria (all participants):

* Any chronic or recent upper extremity musculoskeletal conditions that affects reaching
* Any neurological disorders other than Parkinson's disease (e.g., seizure disorders, closed head injuries with loss of consciousness greater than 15 minutes, CNS neoplasm, history of stroke)

Where this trial is running

Newark, Delaware

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Motor ControlParkinson Diseasemotor controlParkinson diseasemotor learning
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.