Effects of Mental Practice in Gait of Individuals With Parkinson Disease: Randomized Clinical Trial

Immediate Effects of Mental Practice in Gait of Individuals With Parkinson Disease: Randomized Clinical Trial

The purpose of this study is to compare the effects of mental practice, associated with physical practice, on gait (cinematic parameters and mobility) in individuals with idiopathic Parkinson's disease. It is believed that familiarity with the normal gait pattern, associated with mental practice and physical practice can trigger significant changes in spatiotemporal and angular parameters that are not observed in the group not submitted to mental practice.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Parkinson Disease
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Physical practice; Other: Mental and physical practice

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 20
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Brazil
  • Rio Grande do Norte
    • Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, 59078-970
      • Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 44 years to 75 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• the subjects should be in use of antiparkinsonian medication,
• be between stages 2 and 3 of the Hoehn and Yahr modified scale);
• walk without any brace or aid device, independently (scores between 3 and 5 of the Functional Ambulatory Category - FAC) for at least 10 meters
• were not undergoing stereotactic surgery.

Exclusion Criteria:

• We excluded those who were unable or declined to complete the training protocol.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Physical practice; Familiarization with gait cycle: Cards with pictures of an elderly person performing movements related to the adjustment of posture, gait initiation and gait phases were shown to the subjects. They should have organized them sequentially, showing that they learned gait phases. Physical practice: is the execution of the motor action.	Other: Physical practice; The control group underwent familiarization of gait phases using cards with gait phases and physical gait training. Familiarization with gait cycle: Cards with pictures of an elderly person performing movements related to the adjustment of posture, gait initiation and gait phases were shown to the subjects. They should have organized them sequentially, showing that they learned gait phases. Then, they were submitted to a physical gait training. They underwent a single training session during 1 hour and 30 minutes and were reassessed 10 minutes and 1 day after the end of the session, in respect of the kinematic gait and mobility.
Experimental: Mental and physical practice; Familiarization with gait cycle: Cards with pictures of an elderly person performing movements related to the adjustment of posture, gait initiation and gait phases were shown to the subjects. They should have organized them sequentially, showing that they learned gait phases. Mental practice: is defined as motor imagery training with the aim of improving the engine performance. Is the imagination of a motor action without its physical implementation. Physical practice: is the execution of the motor action.	Other: Mental and physical practice; The experimental group underwent familiarization of gait phases using cards with gait phases, mental practice of gait and physical gait training. Familiarization with gait cycle: Cards with pictures of an elderly person performing movements related to the adjustment of posture, gait initiation and gait phases were shown to the subjects. They should have organized them sequentially, showing that they learned gait phases. Then, they were submitted to a mental training of gait. They imagined the gait steps per 400 repetitions. While imagining, they verbalized the gait phases. Finally, they were submitted to a physical gait training. They executed 400 steps. They underwent a single training session during 1 hour and 30 minutes and were reassessed 10 minutes and 1 day after the end of the session, in respect of the kinematic gait and mobility.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Change from Baseline in Step length at 10 minutes and 1 day	Three observetions were done. At baseline, 10 minutes and 1 day after intervention.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change from Baseline in Double Limb Support Time at 10 minutes and 1 day	Double Limb Support Time is the period when both feet are on the ground at the same time. The first period of double limb support begins at initial contact, and lasts, in healthy people, 10 to 12 percent of the cycle. The second period of double limb support occurs in the final 10 to 12 percent of stance phase. As the stance limb prepares to leave the ground, the opposite limb contacts the ground and accepts the body's weight. The two periods of double limb support account for 20 to 24 percent of the gait cycle's total duration. In people with Parkinson disease, this period lasts longer.	Three observetions were done. At baseline, 10 minutes and 1 day after intervention.

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Lorenna M. de Melo Santiago, Master, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte

Publications and helpful links

Helpful Links

• Effect of Locomotor Imagery Training Added to Physical Therapy Program on Gait Performance in Parkinson Patients: A Randomized Controlled Study

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: December 1, 2012
• Primary Completion (Actual): September 1, 2013
• Study Completion (Actual): September 1, 2013

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 20, 2014
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 16, 2014
• First Posted (Estimate): April 21, 2014

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): April 21, 2014
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 16, 2014
• Last Verified: April 1, 2014

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Primary Parkinsonism.; Rehabilitation.; Biomechanics.; Neurological gait disorders.
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Parkinsonian Disorders; Basal Ganglia Diseases; Movement Disorders; Synucleinopathies; Neurodegenerative Diseases; Parkinson Disease
• Other Study ID Numbers: CEP/UFRN 275.155