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Completed

NCT Number: NCT03245216

Facilitating Motor Skill Learning in Parkinson's Disease

The study is designed to assess the effects of aerobic exercise on motor learning in Parkinson patients. Specifically, the investigators examine whether a single bout of moderate intensity aerobic exercise, performed immediately before task practice, facilitates the acquisition and retention of a motor skill. In a cross-over design, participants will be randomly allocated to either the intervention group (aerobic exercise before motor learning) or control group (rest before motor learning).

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Key information

Conditions

Parkinson Disease Basal Ganglia Diseases Brain Diseases Central Nervous System Diseases Movement Disorders Nervous System Diseases Neurodegenerative Diseases Parkinsonian Disorders Synucleinopathies

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Institute of Sport Science and Sport, Gebbertstr. 123b

Erlangen, 91058, Germany

About this study

Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that is characterized by motor control impairments, such as gait disturbances and postural instability. Beneficial effects of exercise are attributed to mechanisms of neuroplasticity, and task-specific motor training is consequently considered to be a motor learning process. While motor learning is preserved in persons with Parkinson's disease, slower acquisition rates and reduced retention have been reported compared to healthy individuals.

Thus, it is crucial to identify strategies to enhance motor learning in people with Parkinson's disease. Recent studies have accumulated evidence to show that aerobic exercise can facilitate motor skill learning. However, these observations are limited to healthy individuals and have not been addressed in individuals with neurologic conditions.

The present study is designed to assess the effects of a single bout of moderate intensity aerobic exercise on a motor skill learning task in patients with Parkinson's disease.

In a cross-over design, participants will be randomly allocated to one of two groups. Both groups will practice balancing on a specific stability platform (motor learning task). The experimental group will additionally perform a bout of aerobic exercise (cycle ergometer) immediately before the motor learning task, while the control group will rest before practice. Subsequently, the acquisition and one-day retention of the motor learning task will be examined.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Parkinson's disease stage 1-3 on Hoehn & Yahr scale
  • Ability to stand unaided and walk without an assistive device
  • Stable medication during the study period

Exclusion criteria

  • On-off and wearing-off phenomena
  • Unstable medical or psychiatric illness
  • Clinically relevant cardiovascular or orthopaedic disease
  • Severe polyneuropathy
  • Cognitive impairment
  • Smoking > 10 cigarettes/day
  • Caffeine > 6 cups of coffee/day
  • Alcohol > 50 g (two glasses)/day

Treatment and study plan

Aerobic Exercise

Behavioral

Single-bout of moderate intensity aerobic exercise on a cycle ergometer before motor learning

Rest

Behavioral

Seated rest before motor learning

Motor learning

Behavioral

Motor learning task on a stability platform (Stabilometer). Participants try to keep the tiltable platform in an horizontal position.

Primary outcomes

  1. Motor Learning (Precision)

    Time frame: Baseline (first trial of practice day 1), 1 day (last trial of practice day 1), and 7 days (first trial of 7-day retention session).

    Change from baseline in time in balance (±5° from horizontal) during balancing task.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Motor Learning (Variability)

    Time frame: Baseline (first trial of practice day 1), 1 day (last trial of practice day 1), and 7 days (first trial of 7-day retention session).

    Change from baseline in mean standard deviation (root mean square error) of platform deflection (in degree).

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Erlangen-Nürnberg

Other

Collaborators

  • Department of Molecular Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, University Erlangen-Nürnberg
  • German Foundation for Neurology

Registry information

Official study title

Facilitating Motor Skill Learning by Aerobic Training in Parkinson's Disease

Acronym: FAST-PD

Important dates

Study start
2017
Primary completion
2018
Study completion
2018
First posted
Aug 10, 2017
Registry last updated
Oct 24, 2018

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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