High intensity endurance exercise for Parkinson's (NCT06133283)
Improve balance using exercise priming
- Trial ID
- NCT06133283
- Official Title
- High Intensity Endurance Exercise as a Primer to Virtual Reality for Optimizing Cortical Excitability and Neuroplasticity in Parkinson's Disease (PD)
- Goal
- Improve balance using exercise priming
- Phase
- NA
- Status
- RECRUITING
- Sponsor
- The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Enrollment
- 16 participants
- Conditions
- Parkinson Disease
- Interventions
- High intensity endurance exercise, Stretching exercise, Virtual reality (VR)-based gaming
Summary For Families
The goal is to test whether a short bout of high intensity endurance exercise done before virtual reality balance games can boost cortical excitability and neuroplasticity, so people with Parkinson's get more benefit for balance and motor learning. The approach compares high intensity aerobic exercise to a stretching control, then has participants do VR-based gaming that practices balance; the idea is that aerobic exercise can raise factors like BDNF and temporarily increase corticomotor excitability, making the brain more ready to learn from the VR practice. The VR sessions give focused, engaging motor practice for balance and gait. The study is looking for people aged 18 to 85 with idiopathic PD in Hoehn and Yahr stages 2 to 3, who have MMSE scores of 23 or higher and a miniBESTest of 21.5 or lower, and who do not have other major neurological, cardiopulmonary, seizure, pregnancy, DBS, or skull/head issues or take medications that alter brain excitability.
Locations
- UT Health San Antonio- Dept. of Physical Therapy, San Antonio, Texas, United States
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is this trial testing?
- This trial is studying High intensity endurance exercise. The goal is to test whether a short bout of high intensity endurance exercise done before virtual reality balance games can boost cortical excitability and neuroplasticity, so people with Parkinson's get more benefit for balance and motor learning. The approach compares high intensity aerobic exercise to a stretching control, then has participants do VR-based gaming that practices balance; the idea is that aerobic exercise can raise factors like BDNF and temporarily increase corticomotor excitability, making the brain more ready to learn from the VR practice. The VR sessions give focused, engaging motor practice for balance and gait. The study is looking for people aged 18 to 85 with idiopathic PD in Hoehn and Yahr stages 2 to 3, who have MMSE scores of 23 or higher and a miniBESTest of 21.5 or lower, and who do not have other major neurological, cardiopulmonary, seizure, pregnancy, DBS, or skull/head issues or take medications that alter brain excitability.
- Who can participate?
- Participants must be between 18 Years and 85 Years.
- Where is this trial located?
- This trial is recruiting at 1 location.
- Does it cost anything to join?
- You are never charged a fee to join a legitimate clinical trial, and the study treatment and study-specific tests are provided by the trial sponsor at no charge. In the US, routine care you would receive anyway can still be billed to you or your insurance; coverage rules differ by country, and trials in the UK and Canada usually run through public health systems. Travel, parking, and time are real costs, and some trials reimburse them while others do not. Before enrolling, ask the study coordinator to explain in writing what is and is not covered.
- How long does the trial last?
- This trial is estimated to last approximately 2 years and 11 months.
- Can I leave the trial if I change my mind?
- Yes. You can withdraw from any clinical trial at any time, for any reason, without affecting your standard medical care. Trials are voluntary by law. The team may ask if you are willing to do a brief exit visit so they can collect safety information, but you are not obligated.
- Can my spouse or care partner come with me to visits?
- In most cases yes, and it is often encouraged. Care partners can help with notes, questions, and getting home safely after a long visit. Some study assessments do need to happen one on one, but care partners are usually welcome for the rest of the appointment.
- Will I get a placebo in this trial?
- There is no placebo group. Everyone receives an active treatment; the study compares one treatment against another.
- How many visits does this trial involve?
- Assessments will be administered at baseline, post-intervention (8 weeks), and follow-up (6 weeks after post-assessment).