None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Reduced balance and gait are debilitating impairments associated with PD. A home-based interactive stepping videogame has been shown to be an enjoyable and effective form of training in the general older population. The aim of this randomised controlled trial is to determine if a home-based, interactive, stepping videogame for people with PD is effective in improving balance and gait. Secondary aims are to determine the effect on muscle power, mobility, fear of falling and freezing of gait, and to provide data that will establish an effect size for fall rates to inform the design of future trials. The use of the online blog to enhance participation and engagement in the training, as well as gauge acceptability of the interactive stepping videogame program, will also be evaluated. Since poor balance is a major risk factor for falls in people with PD, the development of effective, sustainable and engaging exercise programs to improve balance is an urgent research priority.
Interventions
Stepping training using the modified Dance Dance Revoluation (DDR Konami) videogame 3 times a week for 3 months. Participants will perform 15 minutes of stepping practice per session and speed of stepping will be systematically increased to maintain challenge at home. Participants will receive 1 initial home visit from the physiotherapist to set up the videogame system and another home visit within a week to ensure that they are using the system safely. Participants will be provided with all equ
Stepping training using the modified Dance Dance Revoluation (DDR Konami) videogame 3 times a week for 3 months. Participants will perform 15 minutes of stepping practice per session and speed of stepping will be systematically increased to maintain challenge at home. Participants will receive 1 initial home visit from the physiotherapist to set up the videogame system and another home visit within a week to ensure that they are using the system safely. Participants will be provided with all equipment during the 3 month exercise period as well as a booklet containing safety precautions and instructions. Participants will be contacted by a study physiotherapist by phone once every two weeks to monitor adherence and answer any questions or concerns raised by the participant. Participants who have internet access will also be invited to participate in the online blog. If they wish to participate in the online blog, they will learn how to access, log-in and use the online blog to share their experience of using the stepping videogame with other participants. The researchers will monitor the blog daily and contribute to the blog. An additional home visit will be provided at 6 weeks to monitor progress. A final home visit will occur on completion of the 12 week program.
Sponsors
The University of Sydney
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Blinded (masking used) (Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
40 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
Diagnosis of idiopathic Parkinson’s disease Stable PD medications for at least 2 weeks Able to walk for 30m independently without a walking aid
Exclusion criteria
Mini-Mental State Examination Score less than 24/30 Any unstable cardiovascular, orthopaedic or neurological conditions that would interfere with the safety of assessment and/or interpretation of results
Outcome results
None listed