Effects of an Independent Walking Program With Walking Poles in People With Parkinson Disease

NCT07551661 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 0126.32f-ETSU
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 40
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Study Purpose: The purpose of the study is to compare changes in walking in people with Parkinson disease after an 8-week independent walking program with or without using walking poles. Major parts of the Study: Before the walking program: Measurements will be taken of you while you are walking. You will be given tests and questionnaires about your movement and thinking. You will be trained on how to use walking poles. Independent walking program: You will be asked to walk at least 3 times each week for 8 weeks and keep a log of your walking. If you are in the walking pole group, you will walk with the poles. After the walking program: Your walking, movement, and thinking measurements will be collected as before the walking program. Follow-up: The same measures of walking, movement, and thinking will be taken 3-months after ending the walking program.

Conditions

PARKINSON DISEASE (Disorder)

Keywords

walking; physical activity; gait; Nordic walking; arm swing; walking poles

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Six Minute Walk Test

  Measurement of distance walked in 6 minutes, a reflection of functional capacity.

  Prior to initiation of 8 week walking program, immediately upon completion, and 3 months after completion.

Secondary Outcomes (11)

• Gait Characteristic - gait speed

  Prior to initiation of 8 week walking program, immediately upon completion, and 3-months after completion.

• Backward Walk Test

  Prior to initiation of 8 week walking program, immediately upon completion, and 3 months after completion.

• Timed Up and Go

  Prior to initiation of 8 week walking program, immediately upon completion, and 3 months after completion.

• Cognitive Timed Up and Go

  Prior to initiation of 8 week walking program, immediately upon completion, and 3-months after completion.

• Montreal Cognitive Assessment

  Prior to initiation of 8 week walking program, immediately upon completion, and 3 months after completion.

Study Arms (2)

Walking Poles

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants who will be using walking poles during the independent walking program

Behavioral: Independent walking program using walking poles

No Walking Poles

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants who will not be using walking poles during the independent walking program

Behavioral: Independent walking program without walking poles

Interventions

Independent walking program using walking poles BEHAVIORAL

Participants will independently walk at least 3 times a week for 8 weeks using walking poles

Walking Poles

Independent walking program without walking poles BEHAVIORAL

Participants will independently walk at least 3 times a week for 8 weeks without walking poles

No Walking Poles

Eligibility Criteria

• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• English-speaking, diagnosis of Parkinson disease, ability to walk safely and independently with or without a cane, and medically cleared to participate in an independent walking program. Participants must be physically present in the USA at the time of assessment.

You may not qualify if:

• diagnosis of any neurological disease other than PD (including but not limited to stroke, dementia, and multiple sclerosis; mild cognitive impairment is not excluded), regular (\>30%) use of walking poles during walking for exercise for the prior 6 months, weight of more than 320 pounds or height more than 6'4", unable to participate in walking for more than 7 consecutive days during the study period (ie, traveling, scheduled surgery), anticipated change in Parkinson-specific medication (including additions, removals, or changes in dosage) during the intervention period, a change in deep brain stimulation (DBS) parameters during the intervention.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• East Tennessee State University: lead

Study Sites (1)

East Tennessee State University

Johnson City, Tennessee, 37614, United States

RECRUITING

Related Publications (6)

• Szefler-Derela J, Arkuszewski M, Knapik A, Wasiuk-Zowada D, Gorzkowska A, Krzystanek E. Effectiveness of 6-Week Nordic Walking Training on Functional Performance, Gait Quality, and Quality of Life in Parkinson's Disease. Medicina (Kaunas). 2020 Jul 17;56(7):356. doi: 10.3390/medicina56070356.

  PMID: 32708938 RESULT

• Salse-Batan J, Sanchez-Lastra MA, Suarez-Iglesias D, Varela S, Ayan C. Effects of Nordic walking in people with Parkinson's disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Health Soc Care Community. 2022 Sep;30(5):e1505-e1520. doi: 10.1111/hsc.13842. Epub 2022 May 20.

  PMID: 35593147 RESULT

• Reuter I, Mehnert S, Leone P, Kaps M, Oechsner M, Engelhardt M. Effects of a flexibility and relaxation programme, walking, and nordic walking on Parkinson's disease. J Aging Res. 2011;2011:232473. doi: 10.4061/2011/232473. Epub 2011 Mar 30.

  PMID: 21603199 RESULT

• Cugusi L, Manca A, Dragone D, Deriu F, Solla P, Secci C, Monticone M, Mercuro G. Nordic Walking for the Management of People With Parkinson Disease: A Systematic Review. PM R. 2017 Nov;9(11):1157-1166. doi: 10.1016/j.pmrj.2017.06.021. Epub 2017 Jul 8.

  PMID: 28694221 RESULT

• Mantri S, Fullard ME, Duda JE, Morley JF. Physical Activity in Early Parkinson Disease. J Parkinsons Dis. 2018;8(1):107-111. doi: 10.3233/JPD-171218.

  PMID: 29480222 RESULT

• Domingues VL, Pompeu JE, de Freitas TB, Polese J, Torriani-Pasin C. Physical activity level is associated with gait performance and five times sit-to-stand in Parkinson's disease individuals. Acta Neurol Belg. 2022 Feb;122(1):191-196. doi: 10.1007/s13760-021-01824-w. Epub 2021 Oct 23.

  PMID: 34689319 RESULT

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Parkinson Disease; Motor Activity

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Parkinsonian Disorders; Basal Ganglia Diseases; Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Movement Disorders; Synucleinopathies; Neurodegenerative Diseases; Behavior

Central Study Contacts

Tiffany Salido, PT, DPT, PhD

CONTACT

423-439-8727; salido@etsu.edu

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: Single center, two arm, pre-test post-test parallel design with 2 cohorts of participants.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 20, 2026
• First Posted: April 27, 2026
• Study Start: April 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): October 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): January 1, 2027
• Last Updated: April 27, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-04

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL, ANALYTIC CODE

Locations

US (1)