Improve walking speed and balance
- Trial ID
- NCT07381907
- Official Title
- Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Over the Supplementary Motor Area Combined With Nordic Walking on Gait and Balance in Parkinson's Disease
- Goal
- Improve walking speed and balance
- Phase
- NA
- Status
- RECRUITING
- Sponsor
- Universidade Metodista de Piracicaba
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Enrollment
- 40 participants
- Conditions
- Parkinson Disease (PD), Gait Disorders, Postural Balance
- Interventions
- Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS), active, Sham transcranial Direct Current Stimulation, Standardized Nordic Walking program
Plain-Language Summary
The goal is to help people with Parkinson's who have slowed walking and balance problems walk more smoothly and reduce gait difficulties. The approach pairs mild, noninvasive transcranial direct current stimulation over the supplementary motor area, which gently increases that brain region's excitability to support gait initiation and motor network plasticity, with a supervised Nordic walking program that uses poles to improve posture and walking rhythm; the stimulation is added to usual Parkinson's medications, not a replacement for levodopa. They are looking for adults 50 to 75 years old with idiopathic Parkinson's at Hoehn and Yahr stage II to IV, a slowed gait (about 6 seconds or more on a 10 meter walk), ability to walk 10 meters with or without a cane or poles, stable PD meds for at least 4 weeks, and cognitive ability to consent (roughly MMSE ≥24). People with implanted cranial devices like DBS or metal in the skull, recent seizures or uncontrolled medical issues, severe fall risk or musculoskeletal/vestibular problems that prevent walking with poles, recent PD medication changes, or current participation in other interventional gait or brain stimulation trials are excluded.
Locations
- UEAFTO - Unidade de Fisioterapia e Terapia Ocupacional, Belém, Pará, Brazil
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is this trial testing?
- This trial is studying Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS), active. The goal is to help people with Parkinson's who have slowed walking and balance problems walk more smoothly and reduce gait difficulties. The approach pairs mild, noninvasive transcranial direct current stimulation over the supplementary motor area, which gently increases that brain region's excitability to support gait initiation and motor network plasticity, with a supervised Nordic walking program that uses poles to improve posture and walking rhythm; the stimulation is added to usual Parkinson's medications, not a replacement for levodopa. They are looking for adults 50 to 75 years old with idiopathic Parkinson's at Hoehn and Yahr stage II to IV, a slowed gait (about 6 seconds or more on a 10 meter walk), ability to walk 10 meters with or without a cane or poles, stable PD meds for at least 4 weeks, and cognitive ability to consent (roughly MMSE ≥24). People with implanted cranial devices like DBS or metal in the skull, recent seizures or uncontrolled medical issues, severe fall risk or musculoskeletal/vestibular problems that prevent walking with poles, recent PD medication changes, or current participation in other interventional gait or brain stimulation trials are excluded.
- Who can participate?
- Participants must be between 50 Years and 75 Years.
- Where is this trial located?
- This trial is recruiting at 1 location.
- Does it cost anything to join?
- No. There is no cost to participate. Study-related care and treatment are provided at no charge.
- How long does the trial last?
- This trial is estimated to last approximately 8 months.