Gait Analysis in Neurological Disease

July 6, 2026 updated by: Veronique Vanderhorst, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Gait Pattern Analysis in Neurological Disease

The purpose of this study is to investigate whether speed-dependent measures of gait (so called gait signatures) can be identified in patients with neurological conditions that affect gait, particularly in subjects with parkinsonian disorders.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Active, not recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

This study aims to determine whether the gait patterns, modeled as gait signatures, in these subjects differ in predictable and quantifiable ways from those of age- and sex-matched healthy controls (cross sectional data). This will be conducted by asking 40 Parkinsonian disorder subjects and 40 age-matched healthy control subjects to walk 9 trials over an 18 ft walkway embedded with pressure sensors at baseline, self-selected slower and faster speeds. In addition, the protocol aims to investigate whether clusters of gait patterns can be identified within subgroups of individuals with parkinsonian disorders with varying co-morbidities or treatment conditions as well as patients with ataxia or huntington's disease. For this aim an additional 20 Parkinsonian disorder subjects need to be recruited. Patients with parkinsonism as defined by UK PD Brain Bank Criteria (n=60), subjects with acquired or inherited ataxic syndromes (n=10), age- and sex matched controls (n=40) and young healthy controls (n=30) will be recruited. The cohort of young healthy controls serves to validate gait analysis modeling.There is an optional second visit in the protocol during which approximately 20 subjects with Parkinsonian disorders, who are willing to come off antiparkinson medication and if applicable, off both medication and deep brain stimulation, are asked to walk an additional 9 trials. The PD and older healthy control subjects have to option to be followed longitudinally.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
120

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Massachusetts
      • Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02215
        • Clinical Research Center BIDMC

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 85 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Subjects with Parkinsonism as defined by UK PD Brain Bank Criteria. The study population includes subjects with Parkinson's Disease and may also include subjects who may have indeterminate parkinsonism, when it is not clear whether they have idiopathic Parkinson's Disease versus one of the Atypical Parkinsonisms, such as Vascular Parkinsonism, Multiple System Atrophy, Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus or Corticobasal Degeneration. Subgroups include subjects with ataxia and huntington's disease and control subjects without known neurological disease.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age 18-85 (for both healthy and affected subjects).
  • Presence of at least 2 of the following: bradykinesia, rest tremor, rigidity, postural instability (UK PD Brain Bank Criteria) (Affected subjects only).
  • Montreal Cognitive Assessment will be employed to determine whether subjects will need the assent of a legally authorized representative. Subjects with MOCA ≤ 21 will be consented only with the assent of the subject and informed consent of the authorized legal representative (Affected subjects only).
  • These may include subjects who may have indeterminate parkinsonism, when it is not clear whether they have idiopathic Parkinson's Disease versus one of the Atypical Parkinsonisms, such as Vascular Parkinsonism, Multiple System Atrophy, Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus or Corticobasal Degeneration (Affected subjects only).
  • Subjects with assistive devices will be eligible for the study and may use them during the study (Affected subjects only).
  • Absence of complaints regarding difficulty walking such as arthritic pain, fatigue during walking or slowness of walking (Healthy subjects only).

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Presence of alternative explanation for parkinsonism such as head trauma, drug-induced parkinsonism (affected subjects only).
  • Currently being treated for major medical illness requiring recent hospitalization (<14 days) (for both healthy and affected subjects).
  • Currently participating in another clinical study with an intervention arm (for both healthy and affected subjects).
  • Inability to consent due to cognitive impairment and absence of legally authorized representative (for both healthy and affected subjects).
  • Subjects with any cardiac, pulmonary conditions (congestive heart failure requiring hospitalization within the past 90 days, recent myocardial infarction < 90 days, supplemental oxygen-requiring subjects due to cardiac or pulmonary conditions) that limit their ability to safely participate in a walking trial (for both healthy and affected subjects).

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Observational Models: Case-Control
  • Time Perspectives: Cross-Sectional

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort

Group / Cohort

A group or subgroup of participants in an observational study that is assessed for biomedical or health outcomes.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Neurological Disease subjects
Parkinson's Disease and other Parkinsonian Disorders subjects. Other Parkinsonian Disorders include Atypical Parkinsonism such as Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, Multiple System Atrophy, Corticobasal Degeneration, Primary Gait Freezing Disorder, Indeterminate Parkinsonian Syndrome. During the first visit no intervention will take place. There is an optional second visit during which subjects with Parkinson's Disease are asked to come come off antiparkinson medication and if applicable, off both medication and deep brain stimulation.
Drug: Anti-Parkinson medication
During the optional second visit subjects with neurological disease and already on anti-parkinson medication are asked to come off their anti-parkinson medication.
Other Names:
  • Carbidopa/levodopa
  • pramipexole
  • ropinirole
  • amantadine
  • tolcapone
  • entacapone
Device: Deep Brain Stimulation
During the optional second visit subjects with neurological disease already treated with deep brain stimulation are asked to come temporarily stop deep brain stimulation and resume stimulation, with walking trials done in each condition.
Ataxia Subjects
The ataxia subjects will participate in an additional cohort that will test and validate the gait model.
Huntington Disease Subjects
The Huntington Disease subjects will participate in an additional cohort that will test and validate the gait model.
Healthy control subjects
The healthy control subjects will be age- and sex-matched to the Neurological Disease subjects. An additional young healthy control cohort will be used to validate gait analysis methodology.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Gait speed
Time Frame: through study completion, an average of 1 year, with option of PD and older healthy controls to be followed longitudinally for the course of the disease
Method of assessment: physiological parameter
through study completion, an average of 1 year, with option of PD and older healthy controls to be followed longitudinally for the course of the disease

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Swing duration
Time Frame: through study completion, an average of 1 year
Method of assessment: physiological parameter
through study completion, an average of 1 year
Stance duration
Time Frame: through study completion, an average of 1 year
Method of assessment: physiological parameter
through study completion, an average of 1 year
Cadence
Time Frame: through study completion, an average of 1 year
Method of assessment: physiological parameter
through study completion, an average of 1 year
Stride length
Time Frame: through study completion, an average of 1 year
Method of assessment: physiological parameter
through study completion, an average of 1 year

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
March 1, 2016

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
July 7, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
July 7, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
December 21, 2015

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
December 13, 2016

First Posted (Estimated)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
December 16, 2016

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
July 8, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
July 6, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
July 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 2015P000310

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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