Limb Cooling in Essential Tremor
Effects of Limb Cooling on Essential Tremor.
1 other identifier
observational
27
1 country
1
Brief Summary
Essential Tremor (ET) is characterized by tremors affecting the arms. The investigators will examine the effects of non-pharmacological limb cooling on clinical and physiological characteristics in patients presenting with ET at three different temperatures; and will measure changes in tremor amplitude after cooling of the upper limb.
Trial Health
Trial Health Score
Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach
participants targeted
Target at below P25 for all trials
Started Oct 2014
Longer than P75 for all trials
1 active site
Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.
Trial Relationships
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Study Timeline
Key milestones and dates
First Submitted
Initial submission to the registry
February 14, 2014
CompletedFirst Posted
Study publicly available on registry
February 20, 2014
CompletedStudy Start
First participant enrolled
October 1, 2014
CompletedPrimary Completion
Last participant's last visit for primary outcome
August 1, 2016
CompletedStudy Completion
Last participant's last visit for all outcomes
January 14, 2019
CompletedJanuary 18, 2019
January 1, 2019
1.8 years
February 14, 2014
January 16, 2019
Conditions
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcomes (9)
Hand writing assessment battery on limb cooling at 60 minutes post-cooling
Handwriting assessment battery includes pen control and manipulation subtests showed high to perfect agreement (line drawing subtest, κ = 1.0; dot subtest, κ = 0.80). The speed subtest showed perfect agreement (ICC = 1.0). Writing legibility showed high agreement for all five subtests (ICC = 0.71-0.83).
60 minutes post-cooling.
Tremor rating scale on limb cooling at 40 minutes post-cooling
Tremor Rating Scale (TRS), consists of 11 items that evaluate tremor in the head, arms, and legs. The rater assigns a score of 0 to 4 for each item, in ascending order of severity.
40 minutes post-cooling.
Functional dexterity test on limb cooling at 60 minutes post-cooling
Functional Dexterity Test (FDT) two scores are obtained: (1) time, in seconds, to complete the test and (2) combined total time with penalty seconds added to the initial time. If the patient exceeds 55 seconds, he or she receives a non-functional rating.
60 minutes post-cooling.
Hand writing assessment battery on limb cooling at 15 minutes post-cooling
Handwriting assessment battery includes pen control and manipulation subtests showed high to perfect agreement (line drawing subtest, κ = 1.0; dot subtest, κ = 0.80). The speed subtest showed perfect agreement (ICC = 1.0). Writing legibility showed high agreement for all five subtests (ICC = 0.71-0.83).
15 minutes post-cooling.
Hand writing assessment battery on limb cooling at 40 minutes post-cooling
Handwriting assessment battery includes pen control and manipulation subtests showed high to perfect agreement (line drawing subtest, κ = 1.0; dot subtest, κ = 0.80). The speed subtest showed perfect agreement (ICC = 1.0). Writing legibility showed high agreement for all five subtests (ICC = 0.71-0.83).
40 minutes post-cooling.
Tremor rating scale on limb cooling at 15 minutes post-cooling
Tremor Rating Scale (TRS), consists of 11 items that evaluate tremor in the head, arms, and legs. The rater assigns a score of 0 to 4 for each item, in ascending order of severity.
15 minutes post-cooling.
Functional dexterity test on limb cooling at 15 minutes post-cooling
Functional Dexterity Test (FDT) two scores are obtained: (1) time, in seconds, to complete the test and (2) combined total time with penalty seconds added to the initial time. If the patient exceeds 55 seconds, he or she receives a non-functional rating.
15 minutes post-cooling.
Functional dexterity test on limb cooling at 40 minutes post-cooling
Functional Dexterity Test (FDT) two scores are obtained: (1) time, in seconds, to complete the test and (2) combined total time with penalty seconds added to the initial time. If the patient exceeds 55 seconds, he or she receives a non-functional rating.
40 minutes post-cooling.
Tremor rating scale on limb cooling at 60 minutes post-cooling
Tremor Rating Scale (TRS), consists of 11 items that evaluate tremor in the head, arms, and legs. The rater assigns a score of 0 to 4 for each item, in ascending order of severity.
60 minutes post-cooling.
Secondary Outcomes (3)
Effect of limb cooling on the physiological characteristics of essential tremors.
60 minutes post-cooling.
Effect of limb cooling on the physiological characteristics of essential tremors.
40 minutes post-cooling.
Effect of limb cooling on the physiological characteristics of essential tremors.
15 minutes post-cooling.
Study Arms (2)
Limb Cooling Assessment of ET Control
Healthy, volunteers with no known dermatological lesions, sensitivity to cold, or peripheral vascular disease.
Limb Cooling Assessment of ET Experimental
Patients with known essential tremor for at least a year, and +2 or worse action or kinetic tremor of one or both upper limbs involving at least the forearm and/or hand.
Interventions
The non-pharmacological treatment assessments of limb cooling will take place for the subjects which will include the upper limbs. Both clinical and physiological recordings will be measured for a difference in tremors at three different temperatures. 1)baseline assessment maintaining a normal body temperature (96-98°F). 2) at a temperature of 59°F and 3) at a temperature of 80°F for a period of 10 minutes. The clinical assessments will include the Tremor Rating Scale (TRS), Handwriting Assessment Battery (HAB) and the Functional Dexterity Test (FDT). In addition, the Bagnoli and Trigno EMG systems to record surface EMG signals from muscles and accelerometer readings.
Eligibility Criteria
The investigators will enroll 24 subjects diagnosed with Essential Tremor (ET) and 24 subjects with no diagnosed of ET.
You may qualify if:
- Age range 18 to 95 years,
- Clinical diagnosis of essential tremor for at least a year,
- A +2 or worse action or kinetic tremor of one or both upper limbs involving at least the forearm and/or hand
You may not qualify if:
- Dermatologic lesions in upper limbs (e.g. skin cancer, eczema, fresh or healing wounds, abrasions, acne, pustules, abscesses, or skin rash),
- Sensory loss in the upper limbs,
- Known history of sensitivity to cold (i.e., cold urticaria),
- Known peripheral vascular disease,
- Raynaud's phenomenon,
- Scleroderma
- Healthy normal controls will be enrolled through advertisements. All controls will be examined to ensure that they are neurologically healthy.
Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.
Sponsors & Collaborators
Study Sites (1)
University of Florida, Movement Disorders Center
Gainesville, Florida, 32611, United States
Related Links
MeSH Terms
Conditions
Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)
Study Officials
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Aparna W Shukla, M.D
University of Florida
Study Design
- Study Type
- observational
- Observational Model
- CASE CONTROL
- Time Perspective
- PROSPECTIVE
- Sponsor Type
- OTHER
- Responsible Party
- SPONSOR
Study Record Dates
First Submitted
February 14, 2014
First Posted
February 20, 2014
Study Start
October 1, 2014
Primary Completion
August 1, 2016
Study Completion
January 14, 2019
Last Updated
January 18, 2019
Record last verified: 2019-01