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Completed

NCT Number: NCT07736014

Adapted Physical Activity and Tango-Based Therapy for Parkinson's Disease: A Pilot Study

The purpose of this clinical research is to evaluate the effectiveness of a structured Tango-based (Riabilitango®) therapy compared to a conventional Motor Reconditioning program and a Control group in individuals diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease. The study assesses changes in motor performance, balance, gait kinematics, functional strenght, and health-related quality of life over a 3-month intervention period and a 3-month post-intervention follow-up.

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Key information

Conditions

Parkinson's Disease (PD) Basal Ganglia Diseases Brain Diseases Central Nervous System Diseases Movement Disorders Nervous System Diseases Neurodegenerative Diseases Parkinson Disease Parkinsonian Disorders Synucleinopathies

Age range

50 year–80 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria "Ospedali Riuniti" di Foggia

Foggia, FG, 71122, Italy

About this study

Parkinson's disease is characterized by motor deficits affecting gait, postural control, and dynamic balance. This study compares two exercise-based rehabilitation approaches against a control group:

Riabilitango® (Tango Therapy): Supervised group sessions (2 times/week, 60 minutes/session for 3 months) focusing on balance, trunk mobility, rhythm-synchronised walking, and adapted Argentine tango figures.

Motor Reconditioning: Supervised small-group sessions (2 times/week, 60 minutes/session for 3 months) including cycling warm-up, progressive treadmill walking (60-70% max heart rate), upper/lower-limb functional training, and stretching exercises.

Control Group: Follows usual care without participating in the structured rehabilitation interventions during the study period.

Comprehensive clinical, functional, and biomechanical evaluations are conducted at baseline, monthly during the 3-month intervention period, and at a 3-month post-intervention follow-up (6 months total observation period).

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Confirmed clinical diagnosis of idiopathic Parkinson's Disease.
  • Mild to moderate disease severity (Hoehn and Yahr stage I-III).
  • Ability to walk independently (with or without assistive devices).
  • Stable antiparkinsonian pharmacological treatment for at least 4 weeks prior to enrollment.
  • Ability to understand study procedures and willingness to sign the Informed Consent document.

Exclusion criteria

  • Severe cognitive impairment or dementia preventing comprehension of instructions or active participation.
  • Severe cardiovascular, respiratory, orthopedic, or other neurological conditions that impair safe exercise participation or gait evaluation.
  • Surgical interventions that directly affect mobility or dynamic balance (e.g., Deep Brain Stimulation or recent major orthopedic surgery).
  • Concurrent participation in other physical rehabilitation programs or clinical trials during the study period.

Treatment and study plan

Riabilitango® Tango-based program

Other

Supervised group tango therapy incorporating warm-up exercises, trunk mobility routines, rhythm-synchronised walking, partner activities, and progressive adapted tango patterns tailored for individuals with Parkinson's disease.

Motor Reconditioning

Other

Supervised motor reconditioning including a cycling warm-up, progressive treadmill walking at 60-70% of age-predicted maximal heart rate, functional upper-limb exercises, and stretching routines.

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) Part III Motor Examination Score

    Time frame: Baseline, Month 1, Month 2, Month 3, and 3-month post-intervention follow-up (Month 6)

    The UPDRS Part III evaluates motor function in individuals with Parkinson's disease, including speech, facial expression, tremor, rigidity, finger taps, hand movements, gait, posture, and bradykinesia. Scores range from 0 to 56, with higher scores indicating greater motor impairment.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Timed Up and Go (TUG) Test Time

    Time frame: Baseline, Month 1, Month 2, Month 3, and 3-month post-intervention follow-up (Month 6)

    Time in seconds taken by the participant to stand up from a chair, walk 3 meters, turn around, walk back, and sit down. Shorter completion times indicate better functional mobility.

  2. Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) Distance

    Time frame: Baseline, Month 1, Month 2, Month 3, and 3-month post-intervention follow-up (Month 6)

    Total distance walked in meters during 6 minutes. Higher values indicate better functional walking endurance.

  3. Handgrip Strength

    Time frame: Baseline, Month 1, Month 2, Month 3, and 3-month post-intervention follow-up (Month 6)

    Maximum isometric handgrip force measured using a digital dynamometer. Higher values indicate greater upper-limb muscle strength.

  4. Sit-and-Reach Test Distance

    Time frame: Baseline, Month 1, Month 2, Month 3, and 3-month post-intervention follow-up (Month 6)

    Lower back and hamstring flexibility evaluated via the Sit-and-Reach test. Higher values indicate better flexibility.

  5. Back Scratch Test Distance

    Time frame: Baseline, Month 1, Month 2, Month 3, and 3-month post-intervention follow-up (Month 6)

    Shoulder and upper body flexibility evaluated via the Back Scratch test. Higher values (or less negative values) indicate better shoulder flexibility.

  6. Gait Speed

    Time frame: Baseline, Month 1, Month 2, Month 3, and 3-month post-intervention follow-up (Month 6)

    Walking speed evaluated during treadmill locomotion using the Walker View system. Higher values indicate better walking capacity.

  7. Step Length

    Time frame: Baseline, Month 1, Month 2, Month 3, and 3-month post-intervention follow-up (Month 6)

    Average step length during treadmill locomotion evaluated using the Walker View system. Higher values indicate longer step length.

  8. Vertical Displacement During Gait

    Time frame: Baseline, Month 1, Month 2, Month 3, and 3-month post-intervention follow-up (Month 6)

    Vertical movement of the body center of mass during gait, evaluated using the Walker View treadmill system.

  9. Postural Alignment During Gait

    Time frame: Baseline, Month 1, Month 2, Month 3, and 3-month post-intervention follow-up (Month 6)

    Trunk alignment and posture during treadmill walking evaluated using the Walker View system.

  10. Postural Sway Area

    Time frame: Baseline, Month 1, Month 2, Month 3, and 3-month post-intervention follow-up (Month 6)

    Total ellipse area of postural sway during quiet standing with eyes open and closed, evaluated using the ProKin stabilometric platform. Lower values indicate better postural stability.

  11. Center of Pressure Displacement Length

    Time frame: Baseline, Month 1, Month 2, Month 3, and 3-month post-intervention follow-up (Month 6)

    Total trajectory length of the Center of Pressure (CoP) evaluated using the ProKin stabilometric platform under eyes open and closed conditions. Lower values indicate better static postural control.

  12. Pelvic Proprioceptive Balance

    Time frame: Baseline, Month 1, Month 2, Month 3, and 3-month post-intervention follow-up (Month 6)

    Dynamic pelvic proprioceptive control evaluated using the ProKin dynamic platform. Higher percentage scores indicate better proprioceptive stability.

  13. Supine Postural Asymmetries

    Time frame: Baseline, Month 1, Month 2, Month 3, and 3-month post-intervention follow-up (Month 6)

    Evaluation of body alignment asymmetries in a supine position using the Postural Bench system. Lower angular values indicate greater postural symmetry.

  14. 39-Item Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39) Summary Index

    Time frame: Baseline, Month 1, Month 2, Month 3, and 3-month post-intervention follow-up (Month 6)

    Assessed using the 39-Item Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39). The Summary Index ranges from 0% to 100%, where lower percentage scores represent better quality of life and lower disease burden.

  15. 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) Total Score

    Time frame: Baseline, Month 1, Month 2, Month 3, and 3-month post-intervention follow-up (Month 6)

    Assessed using the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). Total scores range from 0 to 100, where higher scores indicate better perceived health status and overall quality of life.

  16. Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale Score

    Time frame: Baseline, Month 1, Month 2, Month 3, and 3-month post-intervention follow-up (Month 6)

    Assessed using the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale. Total raw scores range from 20 to 80, where higher scores indicate greater severity of depressive symptoms.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Foggia

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Effectiveness of Tango Therapy and Physical Reconditioning in Individuals With Parkinson's Disease

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2025
First posted
Jul 30, 2026
Registry last updated
Jul 30, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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