RecruitingNAINTERVENTIONAL

Home-based Gait and Balance Training in Patients With Movement Disorders

Researchers in Germany are studying how a special exercise programme, done at home, can help people with movement problems like Ataxia or Parkinson's disease. The programme uses videos to guide exercises for balance and coordination, aiming to improve walking and reduce falls. The study will compare two different exercise plans: one with shorter, more frequent sessions, and another with longer, less frequent sessions. Volunteers will be split into groups, with some doing one of the exercise plans and others acting as a control group without extra training. The goal is to find out if this type of training is effective and which schedule works best.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Phase

Sponsor

Forschungszentrum Juelich

Enrolment target

Start

04 Jan 2023

Estimated completion

01 Dec 2025

Ataxia Parkinson Disease

What is this study about?

This research project is looking into how a special exercise programme, done at home with videos, can help people who have movement difficulties because of conditions like Ataxia or Parkinson's disease. The main aim is to see if these exercises can improve their walking and balance. We know that conditions like Ataxia and Parkinson's can make it harder to move around safely, so finding ways to help with this is really important.

The study will test two different ways of doing the exercises. One group of participants will do shorter exercise sessions more often during the week (20 minutes, four days a week). Another group will do longer sessions, but less often (40 minutes, two days a week). Both groups will spend the same total amount of time exercising each week, but the study wants to see if the timing and frequency make a difference to the results. There will also be a control group who won't do the extra exercises at first, but can do them later if they wish.

Researchers will use special equipment, like force plates and motion sensors, to measure how people's walking and balance change over time. They'll also be looking at whether information gathered from a smartphone can help understand day-to-day movement and how the training is helping. This could be a really useful way to track progress in the future, making it easier for people to manage their condition at home.

Key takeaways

Tests home-based video exercises for walking and balance.
Aimed at people with Ataxia or Parkinson's disease.
Compares two different weekly exercise schedules.
Involves three visits to the study site in Germany.
Participation is voluntary and you can leave at any time.

Who may be eligible?

To take part in this study, you need to be an adult between 18 and 75 years old. You must have a confirmed diagnosis of either cerebellar ataxia or Parkinson's disease. It's also important that you can walk on your own for at least two minutes without help, and that you have a clear, unhindered space at home where you can walk four metres.

There are certain reasons why you might not be able to join. These include having other health conditions that affect your movement, serious mental health problems, or if you currently have a drug or alcohol addiction. You also can't join if you have a poor general health, are very thin due to illness, or if you're at a high risk of falling frequently (meaning you fall at least once a week or your doctor believes you're at high risk). If you are unable to give consent for yourself or are under official care, you also won't be able to participate. For those with Parkinson's taking medication, you must be able to do measurements during your 'on' phase.

Remember, your doctor can help you understand if this study is right for you, based on your specific health situation.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you between 18 and 75 years old?
Do you have a diagnosis of cerebellar ataxia or Parkinson's disease?
Can you walk on your own for at least two minutes?
Do you have a clear space at home to walk four metres?
Do you not have any other major illnesses affecting your movement or serious mental health conditions?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you decide to take part, you'll visit the study site at University Hospital Düsseldorf (UKD) / Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (HHU) in Germany three times in total. Before starting the main training, everyone will have a one-week period to get used to the exercises without actually doing them. Then, you'll be randomly put into one of three groups: one group will train for 20 minutes, four days a week; another will train for 40 minutes, two days a week; and a control group will not do the extra training during the study period, but can do it afterwards. The training phase itself lasts for three weeks. The medical team will take measurements of your walking and balance at each visit. You might also be asked if you'd like to use your own smartphone to record movement data at home. The total duration of your active participation, including the familiarisation and training phases, will be around 4-5 weeks, plus the follow-up visits.

Potential risks and benefits

Taking part in this study could potentially help improve your walking and balance through the exercise programme. It will also help researchers learn more about managing Ataxia and Parkinson's disease, which could benefit others in the future. As with any exercise, there's a small risk of muscle soreness or fatigue, but the exercises are designed to be adapted to your individual needs. All participants have the right to withdraw from the study at any time, for any reason, without it affecting your medical care or any disadvantages.

Locations (1)

Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf, Institut für Klinische Neurowissenschaften und Medizinische Psychologie
Verified postcode
Düsseldorf, Germany· Recruiting

Common questions

What kind of exercises will I be doing?

You'll be doing video-based exercises focused on improving your coordination and balance, designed to help with walking.

How long will the study last for me?

Your active participation, including familiarisation and the training phase, will be about 4-5 weeks, with three visits in total.

Do I have to go to a special gym for the training?

No, the exercises are designed to be done at home using videos, so you won't need to go to a gym.

What if I feel unwell during the study?

You can withdraw from the study at any time without having to give a reason, and it won't affect your medical care.

Will I get to see my results?

The study aims to contribute to our understanding of movement disorders, and the researchers will inform participants about the overall findings when the study concludes.

How to find out more

Martina Minnerop, PD Dr. med.

m.minnerop@fz-juelich.de +49246161-2125 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.