Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in addition to walking training on walking, mobility, and reduction of falls in Parkinson's disease: study protocol for a randomized clinical trial.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine whether adding transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to walking training improves walking speed, mobility, and reduces falls in people with Parkinson's disease.
Results Summary
The study suggests that tDCS combined with walking training may enhance walking performance in slow and intermediate walkers with Parkinson's disease, potentially improving mobility and reducing fear of falling. Results will be measured at baseline, post-intervention (4 weeks), and 1 month follow-up (8 weeks).
Population
Individuals with Parkinson's disease categorized as slow or intermediate walkers (walking speeds ≤ 1.0 m/s).
Effective Dosage
30-minute walking training sessions with tDCS, 4 weeks.
Duration
4 weeks of intervention, with follow-up at 8 weeks.
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) associated with walking training | increase | walking | slow and intermediate walkers with Parkinson's disease | - | may help improve | #1 |
transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) associated with walking training | increase | mobility | slow and intermediate walkers with Parkinson's disease | - | may be accompanied by better | #2 |
transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) associated with walking training | decrease | fear of falling | slow and intermediate walkers with Parkinson's disease | - | reduced | #3 |
transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) associated with walking training | increase | free-living physical activity at home and in the community | slow and intermediate walkers with Parkinson's disease | - | may experience greater | #4 |
BACKGROUND: Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has the potential to modulate cortical excitability and enhance the effects of walking training in people with Parkinson's disease. This study will examine the efficacy of the addition of tDCS to a task-specific walking training to improve walking and mobility and to reduce falls in people with Parkinson's disease. METHODS: This is a two-arm, prospectively registered, randomized trial with concealed allocation, blinded assessors, participants and therapists, and intention-to-treat analysis. Twenty-four individuals with Parkinson's disease, categorized as slow or intermediate walkers (walking speeds ≤ 1.0 m/s), will be recruited. The experimental group will undertake a 30-min walking training associated with tDCS, for 4 weeks. The control group will undertake the same walking training, but with sham-tDCS. The primary outcome will be comfortable walking speed. Secondary outcomes will include walking step length, walking cadence, walking confidence, mobility, freezing of gait, fear of falling, and falls. Outcomes will be collected by a researcher blinded to group allocation at baseline (week 0), after intervention (week 4), and 1 month beyond intervention (week 8). DISCUSSION: tDCS associated with walking training may help improve walking of slow and intermediate walkers with Parkinson's disease. If walking is enhanced, the benefits may be accompanied by better mobility and reduced fear of falling, and individuals may experience greater free-living physical activity at home and in the community. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials (ReBEC) RBR-6bvnx6 . Registered on September 23, 2019.