Skip to content

Cerebellar rTMS and Physical Therapy for Cerebellar Ataxia

Effect of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation With Intensive Physical Therapy in Cerebellar Ataxia: A Pilot Study

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT04595578
Enrollment
34
Registered
2020-10-20
Start date
2017-09-01
Completion date
2018-03-31
Last updated
2020-10-20

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Multiple System Atrophy, Cerebellar Variant (Disorder), Spinocerebellar Ataxias

Brief summary

The present study investigated the efficacy and safety of combination treatment of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and physical therapy (PT) in patients with cerebellar variant of multiple system atrophy (MSA-C) and spinocerebellar ataxia.

Interventions

DEVICECerebellar repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation

rTMS was delivered on the scalp for over 2 cm under the inion, which is the scalp over the cerebellum area, using a double-cone coil connected to a Magstim Rapid2® stimulator with two Booster Modules (Magstim, Spring Gardens, Wales, UK) in accordance with safety recommendations. Stimulation was delivered to the cerebellum at 10 Hz with 90% of the mean resting motor threshold intensity for 5 seconds at 55 second intervals to deliver 1000 pulses in 20 minutes. Immediately after rTMS, the combination treatment group received balance and gait training by a physical therapist for 30 minutes/day and underwent aerobic exercise using a stationary bicycle at moderate intensity (12 to 14 rating of perceived exertion) for 30 minutes/day and 5 days/week for two weeks. In the control group, no participants received physical therapy or rTMS for two weeks.

Sponsors

Samsung Medical Center
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
20 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

1. The patients with probable MSA-C and spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) 2. cerebellar ataxia as main clinical presenting feature and able to walk independently without walking devices 3. aged over 20 4. presence of cerebellar atrophy proven by brain MRI.

Exclusion criteria

1. secondary cerebellar ataxia 2. peripheral neuropathy, radiculopathy, or decreased visual acuity that can cause peripheral ataxia 3. musculoskeletal disease affecting gait or balance 4. other neurologic symptoms, including symptomatic parkinsonism (two or more rigidity and/or bradykinesia scores in one limb by Unified Parkinson's disease Rating Scale part 3) or spasticity (20) 5. psychiatric symptoms requiring medication or with cognitive decline (Mini-mental state examination \[MMSE\] \< 20) 6. taking any sedative medications or anti-parkinsonian medications such as benzodiazepine, levodopa or dopamine agonist 7. history of seizure or metallic brain implants; (8) cardiopulmonary diseases causing dyspnea during exercise.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale (ICARS)The change of ICARS score between baseline (T0) and immediately after (T1) treatmentThe scale is scored out of 100 with 19 items and 4 subscales of postural and gait disturbances, limb ataxia, dysarthria, and oculomotor disorders. Higher scores indicate higher levels of impairment.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change from posturographyThe clinical scales were evaluated by blinded raters at baseline (T0) and immediately after (T1), 4 weeks after (T2), and 12 weeks (T3) after intervention.Posturography measured by Pedoscan system
Change from Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE)The clinical scales were evaluated by blinded raters at baseline (T0) and immediately after (T1), 4 weeks after (T2), and 12 weeks (T3) after intervention.Measurement of cognitive function
Change from temporospatial parameters of gaitThe clinical scales were evaluated by blinded raters at baseline (T0) and immediately after (T1), 4 weeks after (T2), and 12 weeks (T3) after intervention.Gait parameters measured by GAITRite system
Change from Barthel Index for Activities of Daily LivingThe clinical scales were evaluated by blinded raters at baseline (T0) and immediately after (T1), 4 weeks after (T2), and 12 weeks (T3) after intervention.Measurement of activities of daily living
Change from International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale (ICARS)The clinical scales were evaluated by blinded raters at baseline (T0) and 4 weeks after (T2), and 12 weeks (T3) after intervention.The scale is scored out of 100 with 19 items and 4 subscales of postural and gait disturbances, limb ataxia, dysarthria, and oculomotor disorders. Higher scores indicate higher levels of impairment.
Change from Beck depression inventory (BDI)The clinical scales were evaluated by blinded raters at baseline (T0) and immediately after (T1), 4 weeks after (T2), and 12 weeks (T3) after intervention.Measurement of symptoms of depression

Countries

South Korea

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026