EMG of Gait Under Dual-Task in Parkinson Desease (EMG-DT-PD)

Electromyographic Activity of the Tibialis Anterior and Medial Gastrocnemius in Parkinson's Disease During Forward and Backward Gait Under Dual-Tasking: A Descriptive Study

In this observational study embedded within a randomized controlled trial, the investigators aim to characterize the activation patterns of the tibialis anterior and medial gastrocnemius muscles in the more rigid leg of patients with Parkinson's disease when performing walking tasks under dual cognitive-task conditions, which are known to increase the risk of falls in this population.

To this end, a control group without neurological disorders and with comparable sociodemographic characteristics will also be assessed.

The study seeks to determine whether significant changes occur in forward and backward gait as a function of the dual-task condition.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Electromyography; Parkinson Disease (PD); Dual Task Walking

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 30

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Spain
  • Sevilla
    • Seville, Sevilla, Spain, 41015
      • Sevilla, España

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Patients with Parkinson's disease and mild cognitive and gait functional impairment recruited from the Parkinson's Association of Seville.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Ability to walk independently for at least 5 meters, both forward and backward, without the need for assistive devices or assistance from another person.
• Diagnosis of idiopathic Parkinson's disease made by a neurologist at Hospital Virgen Macarena.
• Hoehn and Yahr stage I-III.
• Being in the "ON" phase of antiparkinsonian medication during the assessment (approximately one hour after intake, when the pharmacokinetic curve of levodopa reaches its peak).

Exclusion Criteria:

• Presence of symptomatic musculoskeletal disorders affecting the lower limbs (LL) (relevant orthopedic surgery or leg length discrepancy > 1 cm), or other neurological conditions (stroke, neuropathies, etc.) that independently affect gait.
• Balance disorders due to other causes (vestibulopathy, severe orthostatic hypotension, etc.).
• Decompensated systemic diseases (cardiac disease, COPD, uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, etc.).
• Uncorrected visual impairments that may affect gait performance.
• Previous treatment with deep brain stimulation.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Parkinson Desease; Patients with Parkinson's disease recruited from the Parkinson's Association of Seville
Healthy Subjects; Patients with similar sociodemographic characteristics without neurological disorders

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
%MIVC	It was calculated by expressing the Root Mean Square (RMS) value for each condition as a percentage of the Maximal Voluntary Contraction (MVC) obtained during the isometric test. This approach ensures accurate quantification of neuromuscular effort, which is essential to minimize bias arising from anatomical and physiological differences between subjects.	Baseline (Day 1)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
CVM	The Maximal Voluntary Contraction (MVC) was established as the reference value for neuromuscular activation capacity for each muscle (TA and GM). This variable was obtained as the mean of three repetitions of maximal isometric activation lasting 6 seconds, allowing standardization of muscle responses to the dynamic efforts performed during gait.	Baseline (Day 1)
Ratio (GM/TA)	It is calculated as the ratio of activation between the agonist and antagonist muscles during the gait cycle. This index is used to assess muscle co-activation strategies and the mechanical efficiency of gait.	Baseline (Day 1)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Cadiz
• Collaborators: Hospital Universitario Virgen Macarena; Asociación de Enfermos de Parkinson de Sevilla; Facultad de Enfermería, Fisioterapia y Podología (FEFP)

Publications and helpful links

Helpful Links

• m-Durance official website

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 15, 2026
• Primary Completion (Actual): March 30, 2026
• Study Completion (Actual): March 30, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 30, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 7, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): May 13, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 13, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 7, 2026
• Last Verified: May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Parkinson Disease; Muscle Contraction; Wearable Electronic Devices; Gait Disorders, Neurologic; Dual-Task Tests
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Synucleinopathies; Neurologic Manifestations; Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Neurodegenerative Diseases; Movement Disorders; Parkinsonian Disorders; Basal Ganglia Diseases; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Signs and Symptoms; Parkinson Disease; Gait Disorders, Neurologic
• Other Study ID Numbers: SICEIA-2025-000444

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