Focused Vibrotactile Stimulation with Cueing Effect on Freezing of Gait in Parkinson's Disease: Two Case Reports

Xiu Sheng Tan, Floyd Pierres, Alex Dallman-Porter, William Hardie-Brown, Kyum-Yil Kwon, Xiu Sheng Tan, Floyd Pierres, Alex Dallman-Porter, William Hardie-Brown, Kyum-Yil Kwon

Abstract

Freezing of gait (FOG) is a common occurrence in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) that leads to significant limitations in mobility and increases risk of falls. Focused vibrotactile stimulation and cueing are two methods used to alleviate motor symptoms, including FOG, in patients with PD. While effective on their own, the effect of combining both focused vibrotactile stimulation and cueing has yet to be investigated. Two patients, both with a history of PD, suffered from frequent FOG episodes that failed to respond adequately to medication. A novel vibrotactile stimulation device that delivered rhythmic kinesthetic stimuli onto the sternum successfully reduced FOG episodes in both patients and drastically improved their mobility as measured by the Timed Up and Go test. We found that a combination of focused vibrotactile stimulation and cueing was effective in reducing FOG episodes in two patients with PD. Further well-designed prospective studies are needed to confirm our observations.

Keywords: Cueing; Freezing of gait; Parkinson’s disease; Vibrotactile stimulation.

Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest

Tan XS, Pierres F, Dallman-Porter A, and Hardie-Brown W are members of the medical research team in Charco Neurotech Ltd., London, United Kingdom. Dr. Kwon serves as a scientific advisor coresearcher in Charco Neurotech Ltd., London, United Kingdom.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
The novel vibrotactile stimulation device (CUE1, Charco Neurotech Ltd., London, United Kingdom) is attached to the sternum.

References

    1. Macerollo A, Palmer C, Foltynie T, Korlipara P, Limousin P, Edwards M, et al. High-frequency peripheral vibration decreases completion time on a number of motor tasks. Eur J Neurosci. 2018;48:1789–1802.
    1. Syrkin-Nikolau J, Neuville R, O’Day J, Anidi C, Miller Koop M, Martin T, et al. Coordinated reset vibrotactile stimulation shows prolonged improvement in Parkinson’s disease. Mov Disord. 2018;33:179–180.
    1. Lim I, van Wegen E, de Goede C, Deutekom M, Nieuwboer A, Willems A, et al. Effects of external rhythmical cueing on gait in patients with Parkinson’s disease: a systematic review. Clin Rehabil. 2005;19:695–713.
    1. Nieuwboer A, Rochester L, Herman T, Vandenberghe W, Emil GE, Thomaes T, et al. Reliability of the new freezing of gait questionnaire: agreement between patients with Parkinson’s disease and their carers. Gait Posture. 2009;30:459–463.
    1. Smulders K, Dale ML, Carlson-Kuhta P, Nutt JG, Horak FB. Pharmacological treatment in Parkinson’s disease: effects on gait. Parkinsonism Relat Disord. 2016;31:3–13.
    1. Lucas McKay J, Goldstein FC, Sommerfeld B, Bernhard D, Perez Parra S, Factor SA. Freezing of gait can persist after an acute levodopa challenge in Parkinson’s disease. NPJ Parkinsons Dis. 2019;5:25.
    1. Barbe MT, Tonder L, Krack P, Debû B, Schüpbach M, Paschen S, et al. Deep brain stimulation for freezing of gait in Parkinson’s disease with early motor complications. Mov Disord. 2020;35:82–90.
    1. Sweeney D, ÓLaighin G, Richardson M, Meskell P, Rosenthal L, McGeough A, et al. Effect of auditory, visual and somatosensory cueing strategies on on-state freezing of gait in Parkinson’s disease. Parkinsonism Relat Disord. 2020;77:1–4.
    1. Engel AK, Fries P. Beta-band oscillations--signalling the status quo? Curr Opin Neurobiol. 2010;20:156–165.
    1. Morris ME, Iansek R, Matyas TA, Summers JJ. Stride length regulation in Parkinson’s disease. Normalization strategies and underlying mechanisms. Brain. 1996;119:551–568.

Source: PubMed

Sponsoren und Mitarbeiter

Krankheiten

Drogeninterventionen

3
Abonnieren