Sensory Cues for Freezing in Parkinson's Disease

June 22, 2006 updated by: Austin Health

Effect of Randomized Patient-Triggered Sensory Cues for Freezing of Gait in Parkinson's Disease

The purpose of this study is (1) to determine if patient triggered sensory(auditory, visual and tactile) cues can help treat freezing of gait in Parkinson's disease, and (2) to assess if unexpected (randomized) cues are more effective than anticipated ones.

Study Overview

Status

Unknown

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Freezing of gait (FOG) is defined as a transient halt in motor activity, wherein the patient appears "as if nailed to the floor." It is a common phenomenon in Parkinson's disease (PD), both when medications are at their peak ("on state") and at their lowest effectiveness ("off state"). While "off" FOG often responds to dopaminergic medications, "on" FOG is a difficult to treat, causing significant distress for the patient, and elevating risk of falls and morbidity.

A few small studies have suggested that auditory and visual sensory cues, in the form of continuous stimuli such as a clicking metronome, music, or horizontal lines drawn the floor, may help patients with gait freezing. In this study, we aim to: (1) evaluate if stimuli (including visual, auditory as well as tactile cues) which are present only on patient triggering are effective for FOG in PD; (2) investigate if presentation of unexpected cues, in the form of randomized sensory stimuli, are more effective that anticipated cues.

Participants will include patients diagnosed with PD, stabilized on drug therapy, with adequate vision, hearing, and mentation to respond to cuing, and experiencing "on" FOG. Patients will be evaluated during a single session. A small device which we have developed will be placed around the neck, and emit either repetitive beeping, a flashing line on the floor, or a slight vibration felt over the neck when the patient presses a button on the front panel in response to FOG. Participants will be videotaped walking a 15 m strip with: (1) no cues; (2) auditory cues only; (3) visual cues only; (4) tactile cues only; and (5) randomized cues. The order in which patients receive the cues will be randomized.

A reviewer will watch the videotape with sound off so that they will be blinded to the cues. The Total Time, Freezing Time (duration of walk in which patient experiences freezing, Walking Time (duration of walk during which patient is not experiencing freezing), and Average Duration of Freeze will be recorded for each walk.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment

20

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

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

Study Locations

  • Australia
    • Victoria
      • Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 3084
        • Austin Hospital

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

Ages Eligible for Study

40 years to 95 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Currently living in Melbourne, Australia (note that we cannot respond to enquiries from outside of this area)
  • Confirmed diagnosis of Parkinson's disease
  • Stabilized drug therapy for at least 1 month prior to the study and during
  • Hearing and vision - Able to identify lines on floor, hear metronome
  • MMSE >24
  • Able to walk independently (with or without a mechanical aid)
  • Able to give informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Severe comorbidity (joint problems, neuromuscular disorder affecting mobility)
  • Severe dyskinesias

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

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
  • Masking: Single

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Total walking time
Number of freezes
Freeze time - duration of walk in which patient experiences freezing
Walking time - duration of walk during which patient is not experiencing freezing
Average duration of freeze

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Austin Health

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Kerrie Schoffer, MD, Austin Hospital, Melbourne Australia

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

July 1, 2006

Study Completion

January 1, 2007

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

May 3, 2006

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 4, 2006

First Posted (Estimate)

May 5, 2006

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

June 23, 2006

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 22, 2006

Last Verified

May 1, 2006

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 1-Schoffer

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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