Home-based Gait and Balance Training in Patients with Movement Disorders

Launched by FORSCHUNGSZENTRUM JUELICH · Sep 20, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is looking at a new way to help people with movement disorders, like ataxia or Parkinson's disease, improve their walking and balance. Participants will take part in a three-week training program that involves personalized exercises they can do at home, guided by videos. There are two training schedules: one involves 20 minutes of training four times a week, while the other consists of 40 minutes of training just two times a week. Before starting the training, everyone will have a week to get familiar with the study procedures, and then they'll be randomly assigned to one of the training groups or a control group where they won’t receive any additional training during the study.

To join this trial, participants must be diagnosed with cerebellar ataxia or Parkinson's disease and should be able to walk unaided for at least four meters at home. Unfortunately, those with other serious health issues, a history of frequent falls, or those who can't give consent will not be eligible. Participants can expect to receive personalized training designed to help them improve their movement skills, and those in the control group will have the chance to access the training after the study is completed. This research aims to find out the best way to help improve balance and walking in patients with these conditions.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • clinical diagnosis of cerebellar ataxia or idiopathic Parkinson's syndrome
• • opportunity to walk a distance of four meters unhindered at home
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • other diseases with an impact on motor skills
• • severe primary psychiatric illnesses
• • current drug or alcohol addiction
• • consumptive diseases
• • poor general condition
• • increased risk of falling (anamnestic fall frequency of ≥ 1x per week or as assessed by the attending physician)
• • incapacitated patients in official or court custody or patients unable to give consent
• • for PD patients taking medication: not being able to carry out the measurement in the on-phase of the medication