Investigation of lower extremity orthoses on gait in persons with Parkinson's Disease: a case series

Study ID
STU 072012-084

Cancer Related
No

Healthy Volunteers
No

Study Sites

  • UT Southwestern-Other

Contact
Staci Macklin
214-648-1551
staci.macklin@utsouthwestern.edu

Principal Investigator
Karen McCain

Summary

This is a non-randomized, single group (N=10), repeated measures study. The study will take place at the David M. Crowley Research and Rehabilitation Lab in the School of Health Professions at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. The outcome measure for the study include: 1. GAITRite System for temporal and spatial parameters, 2. EMG of the anterior tibialis, gastrocnemius, and vastus lateralis muscles, 3. 6-Minute Walk Test (gait endurance) 4. Lower extremity strength (hand-held dynamometry and single leg heel raise), 5. Dynamic Gait Index, 6. Video tape of overground gait analysis, 7. UPDRS (Unified Parkinson and #146;s Disease Rating Scale), 8. Hoehn and Yahr Rating Scale, 9. Standardized balance assessment (Romberg test, single limb stance test), 10. PDQ-39 (Parkinson and #146;s Disease Questionnaire 39).

This study will be 10 weeks long. Over the 10 week period, the subject will participate in 2-3 gait training sessions which will be at weeks 1, 2, and 7. Each training session will be 45-60 minutes in duration. Outcome measures will be completed at the following times: time of consent (T1), treatment 1 at time of brace delivery (T2), week 5 (T3), and week 10 (T4). Subjects will be closely monitored throughout the 10 week study and will be unenrolled by self-request or the following medical reasons: 1. New diagnosis with direct consequences affecting gait training, 2. Inability to tolerate the study AFO.

Participant Eligibility

1. Confirmed diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease
2. Between the ages of 50 and 75
3. Ability to walk 150 feet independently over level surfaces with or without an assistive device
4. Stable medication usage for the duration of the study (10 weeks)
5. Obvious gait dysfunction (Observational Gait Analysis)
6. Score of greater than 10 on the Short Orientation-Memory-Concentration Test