Effects of Nordic Walking and Free Walking on Arm Swing Parameters and Gait in Parkinson's Disease

NCT06342271 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 24-2023
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 28
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

People with Parkinson's Disease(PD) present a series of alterations such as muscle stiffness and motor slowing, which gradually affect the swinging movement of the arms and legs, altering the ability to walk, increasing the risk of falling, and reducing functionality. This implies a higher energy cost and a greater probability of developing freezing of the gait. Nordic walking (NW) is a form of physical exercise characterized by the use of walking poles, which could contribute positively to arm swing movement and, thus, gait. This clinical trial aims to compare Nordic Walking with free walking (FW) protocol training and investigate their effects on arm swing and gait parameters in people with PD. The study hypothesizes that NW training will reduce asymmetry and increase arm swing amplitudes during gait to a greater extent than FW. Also, improvements in arm swing could positively influence lower limb performance during regular gait, increasing gait speed, stride length, functional mobility, and quality of life. People with PD will complete 24 supervised NW or FW training sessions for 12 weeks. Both trainings will be identical in volume and intensity, the only difference will be the use of poles in the NW group. Blinded researchers will conduct evaluations at baseline (T0), post-intervention (T1), and in one-month follow-up (T2).

Conditions

Parkinson Disease

Keywords

Parkinson disease; Arms swing; Gait; Gait Disorders, Neurologic; Nordic Walking; Rehabilitation

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Change in the amplitude of arm swing

  It is the movement of the arms in the antero-posterior direction during walking. Measurements will be made through accelerometers, and the unit of measurement will be degrees.

  Before, after 12-weeks of training, and after one-month of follow-up.

• Change in the arm swing asymmetry

  Asymmetry of the amplitude of movement between left and right swings during walking (0% means no asymmetry) \[%\]

  Before, after 12-weeks of training, and after one-month of follow-up.

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Change in the temporospatial measurements during walking including measurements of Gait speed [m/s] and step length [m].

  Before, after 12-weeks of training, and after one-month of follow-up.

• Change in the functional mobility will be measured through the Timed up and go (TUG).

  Before, after 12-weeks of training, and after one-month of follow-up.

• Change in the quality of life

  Before, after 12-weeks and after one-month of follow-up.

Study Arms (2)

Nordic Walking group

EXPERIMENTAL

The group will be training with a Nordic Walking protocol for 12- weeks, two times a week, completing 24 one-hour sessions.

Other: Nordic walking training

Free Walking group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

The group will be training with a Free Walking protocol for 12- weeks, two times a week, completing 24 one-hour sessions.

Other: Free Walking training

Interventions

Nordic walking training OTHER

Participants will receive Nordic walking training (to walk with poles) for 12 weeks, 3x/week.

Nordic Walking group

Free Walking training OTHER

Participants will receive Free walking training (to walk without poles) for 12 weeks, 3x/week.

Free Walking group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 50 Years - 80 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Diagnosis of idiopathic PD, confirmed by a neurologist following the criteria of the Parkinson disease Society Brain Bank Criteria
• Age between 50-80 years
• Disease stage between I and III according to Hoehn and Yahr (Hoehn and Yahr)
• To be able to walk without technical aids.

You may not qualify if:

• Cognitive impairment (score \< 26 in the Montreal Cognitive Assessment MoCA).
• Surgery lasting less than three months or deep brain stimulation (DBS).
• Presence of comorbidities that contraindicate moderate to high-intensity physical exercise.
• Participate in any walking training two or more times per week.
• Diagnosis of any other neurological or musculoskeletal condition that can cause motor compromise and interfere with locomotion.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Talca: lead

Related Publications (1)

• Espinoza-Araneda J, Caparros-Manosalva C, da Cunha M, Marzuca-Nassr GN, Fritz-Silva N, Pagnussat AS. Nordic walking and arm swing asymmetry in people with Parkinson's disease: protocol for a randomised clinical trial. BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med. 2024 May 27;10(2):e002029. doi: 10.1136/bmjsem-2024-002029. eCollection 2024.

  PMID: 38808265 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Parkinson Disease; Gait Disorders, Neurologic

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Parkinsonian Disorders; Basal Ganglia Diseases; Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Movement Disorders; Synucleinopathies; Neurodegenerative Diseases; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

• Jéssica Espinoza, PT, MsC, PhD

  University of Talca

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Jessica Espinoza, PT, MsC, PhD

CONTACT

+56991659008; jeespinoza@utalca.cl

Cristian Caparrós Manosalva, PT, MsC, PhD

CONTACT

+56953424032; ccaparros@utalca.cl

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 26, 2024
• First Posted: April 2, 2024
• Study Start: June 1, 2024
• Primary Completion: March 30, 2025
• Study Completion: June 30, 2025
• Last Updated: April 2, 2024

Record last verified: 2024-03

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share