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Completed

NCT Number: NCT01544738

Sensory Stimulation Effect on Movement Speed in Patients With Parkinson Disease

Movement slowness (bradykinesia) is one of the main motor symptoms in Parkinson Disease (PD). Several studies have shown that patients with PD exhibit slowness because they are unable to modulate, in an optimal way, the velocity of voluntary motor acts not induced by external stimulation. Indeed, these patients have difficulties to integrate multi-sensorial information, mainly proprioception.

The investigators investigated changes in shoulder velocity during pointing movements by patients with PD after stimulation of soft tissues (aponeurosis) of upper limb muscles. The stimulation consisted of manipulating, with a hook (the diacutaneous fibrolysis method), the aponeurotic tissues enrobing the heads of the upper limb muscles. This technique has previously been shown to decrease passive tension and the tendon reflex response of the manipulated muscle group. The investigators hypothesis is that aponeurotic manipulation of shoulder muscles therefore creates a modification in the proprioceptive information, which in return temporarily decreases the bradykinesia of shoulder movements.

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Key information

Conditions

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

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

ULB-FSM Laboratory of neurophysiology and movement biomechanics

Brussels, 1070, Belgium

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Clinical diagnosis of Parkinson Disease

Exclusion criteria

  • Patients with a limitation in the shoulder range of motion necessary to perform pointing movements

Treatment and study plan

Aponeurotic stimulation (the diacutaneous fibrolysis method)

Other

Treatment consisted of manipulating, with a hook, the aponeurotic tissues enrobing the heads of the upper-limb muscles. The manipulation consisted of back and forth mobilization, applied perpendicularly to the axis of the muscular fibers. The mobilization is performed with both hands; the therapist's non-dominant hand performs a manual mobilization whereas the dominant hand follows the movement with the hook. The hook allows the therapist to be very precise about the location of the tissues that are stretched. This stretch is realized at the level of the aponeurotic fibers presenting the greatest resistance to perpendicular movement. The shape of the hook is chosen to avoid discomfort or pain during manipulation. To spread the pressure exerted by the spatula on a very local point, it is important to fill completely the curved part of the hook with the adjacent soft tissues. We manipulated muscle from the proximal insertion towards the distal, giving special attention to the tendons.

Placebo stimulation

Other

Placebo stimulation (PS) consisted of manipulating the skin along the same paths over the trunk, shoulder and arm muscles that were the targets for treatment in the AS group

Primary outcomes

  1. 3D kinematic movement parameters and upper limb muscles electromyographic activation

    Time frame: Participants will be followed for the duration of the clinical test (2 weeks)

Secondary outcomes

  1. Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS)

    Time frame: Participants will be followed for the duration of the clinical test (2 weeks)

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Université Libre de Bruxelles

Other

Collaborators

  • Belgium: Belgian Federal Science Policy Office (BELSPO)
  • Fonds National de la Recherche Scientifique

Registry information

Official study title

Aponeurotic Stimulation Effect on Parkinson Bradykinesia

Important dates

Study start
2008
Primary completion
2009
First posted
Mar 6, 2012
Registry last updated
Mar 6, 2012

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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