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Physical Therapy and Deep Brain Stimulation in Parkinson Disease

NCT03181282 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 31

Last updated 2023-03-22

Study results available
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Summary

While deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (STN-DBS) is commonly used to reduce tremor, muscle stiffness, and bradykinesia in people with Parkinson disease (PD), preliminary studies suggest balance may worsen and falls may increase after STN-DBS. Walking speed, known to be reduced in PD, typically improves after surgery; however, other important gait qualities may not improve. Given the potential for worsening balance and gait and increasing falls after surgery, it is imperative that researchers explore interventions that complement the positive effects of STN-DBS and delay worsening of balance and gait.

Physical therapy (PT) is reported to be effective in improving balance and walking in people with PD. However, there have been no studies to investigate how individuals with STN-DBS respond to PT. As such, it is unclear if exercise in the post-DBS population is safe, feasible, and effective. The purpose of this study is to examine the safety, feasibility, and efficacy of PT in people with PD with STN-DBS.

The investigators hypothesize that PT will be safe and feasible for people with PD with STN-DBS. Further, the investigators hypothesize that those assigned to PT group will demonstrate improvements in balance and gait while those assigned to the control group will demonstrate no change or a decline in balance and gait.

Conditions

  • Parkinson Disease

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Physical Therapy

Postural stability exercises will follow a framework targeting quiet stance, anticipatory and reactive postural adjustments, and dynamic postural control. Gait exercises will include treadmill walking and practice with dual-task gait. A home exercise program (HEP), to be completed twice weekly, will be provided on each participant's initial visit with the physical therapist following STN-DBS surgery. The HEP will include the following exercises: trunk rotation, standing hip flexion, standing hip abduction, standing plantarflexion, and standing squat.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

    collaborator NIH

  • Washington University School of Medicine

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Ryan P Duncan, DPT · Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine - Program in Physical Therapy

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
30 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2017-08-03
Primary Completion
2019-08-02
Completion
2019-08-02

Countries

  • United States

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT03181282 on ClinicalTrials.gov