Comparative Effects of Alexander Techniques and Feldenkrais Method in Parkinson's Disease

January 10, 2025 updated by: Riphah International University

Comparative Effects of Alexander Techniques and Feldenkrais Method on Balance, Fear of Fall and Quality of Life in Patients With Parkinson's Disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by tremors, rigidity, and postural instability. These symptoms significantly impact balance and increase the risk of falls, which subsequently lead to a heightened fear of falling and a diminished quality of life. Alexander Technique and the Feldenkrais Method have shown effects in improving overall well-being.

The study is randomized clinical trial will be carried at General hospital. 46 participants meeting the inclusion criteria will be included in this study. Participants will be randomly assigned into 2 groups, Group A and Group B participants will receive Alexander techniques and Feldenkrais method, respectively. All the groups will receive interventions for three days a week for 8 weeks.

Study Overview

Status

Enrolling by invitation

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor symptoms such as tremors, rigidity, bradykinesia, and postural instability. These symptoms significantly impact balance and increase the risk of falls, which subsequently lead to a heightened fear of falling and a diminished quality of life. Alexander Technique and the Feldenkrais Method have shown promise in improving motor function and overall well-being. The primary objective of this study is to compare the effects of the Alexander Technique and the Feldenkrais Method on balance, fear of falling, and quality of life in patients with Parkinson's disease.

This randomized clinical trial will be carried at General hospital after the approval of permission letter. Total number of 46 participants meeting the inclusion criteria will be included in this study through a non-probability convenient sampling technique. Participants will be randomly assigned into 2 groups using computer generated randomization method. Group A and Group B participants will receive Alexander techniques and Feldenkrais method, respectively. All the groups will receive interventions for three days a week for 8 weeks. Total treatment time will be 40 minutes. The outcome measuring scales used will be Berg balance scale and time-up and go to measure balance, fall efficacy scale-international to measure fear of fall, and the Parkinson's disease questionnaire (PDQ-39) to measure quality of life. The data will be collected at baseline and after 8 weeks of therapy, to measure the outcome measures.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

46

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

  • Pakistan
    • Punjab
      • Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
        • General 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

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • The age group of 50 to 70 years will be included.
  • Both genders (male and female)
  • Patients diagnosed with Parkinson's disease of Hoehn and Yahr stage (1-3).
  • Patient should be able to stand 10 minutes at least without assistance.
  • Patients should be able to walk with or without assistance.
  • MMSE (score higher than 24).

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Recent surgery or any fracture
  • Visual and hearing impairments.
  • CVS impairments that interfered with therapy
  • Joint pain or musculoskeletal problem that interfered with therapy

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: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: alexander
Group A will receive therapy according to Alexander techniques for every alternate day (3 days per week) for 8 weeks. Total 40 minutes of session.
Other: Alexander technique
24 sessions for 8 weeks, per week 3 sessions will be given
Experimental: feldenkrais
Group B will receive therapy according to Feldenkrais method for every alternate day (3 days per week) for 8 weeks. Total 40 minutes of session
Other: Feldenkrais method
The method is divided into eight lessons according to 'Awareness Through Movement'. Each lesson will be given three times for one week.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Berg balance scale
Time Frame: 8 weeks
It is a 14-item list with each item consisting of a five-point ordinal scale ranging from 0 to 4, with 0 indicating the lowest level of function and 4 the highest level of function and takes approximately 20 minutes to complete. It does not include the assessment of gait. A score of 56 indicates functional balance. A score of <45 indicates individuals may be at greater risk of falling. A score of ≤49 indicates a risk of falls in individuals with stroke.
8 weeks
Time up and go (TUG)
Time Frame: 8 weeks
The patient starts in a seated position. The patient stands up upon therapist's command: walks 3 meters, turns around, walks back to the chair and sits down. The time stops when the patient is seated. An older adult who takes ≥12 seconds to complete the TUG is at risk for falling. In Parkinson's, the patient is at high risk of fall if he takes more than 11.5 seconds.
8 weeks
Fall efficacy scale-international (FES-I)
Time Frame: 8 weeks
It is a 16-item questionnaire, with a score ranging from minimum 16 (no concern about falling) to maximum 64 (severe concern about falling).
8 weeks
Quality of life questionnaire for Parkinson's PDQ-39
Time Frame: 8 weeks
PDQ-39 comprises 39 questions from 8 dimensions which include mobility, activities of daily of living, emotional well-being, stigma, social support, cognition, communication, and bodily discomfort.
8 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Riphah International University

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Sabiha Arshad, M.Phill, Riphah International University

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

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)

October 1, 2024

Primary Completion (Estimated)

February 1, 2025

Study Completion (Estimated)

May 1, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

December 20, 2024

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

December 20, 2024

First Posted (Actual)

March 25, 2025

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

March 25, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 10, 2025

Last Verified

January 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • REC/RCR & AHS/24/0248

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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