Sensory Stimulation Effect on Movement Speed in Patients With Parkinson Disease

Sponsor
Université Libre de Bruxelles (Other)
Overall Status
Completed
CT.gov ID
NCT01544738
Collaborator
Fonds National de la Recherche Scientifique (Other), Belgium: Belgian Federal Science Policy Office (BELSPO) (Other)
11
1
2

Study Details

Study Description

Brief Summary

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.

Condition or Disease Intervention/Treatment Phase
  • Other: Aponeurotic stimulation (the diacutaneous fibrolysis method)
  • Other: Placebo stimulation
N/A

Study Design

Study Type:
Interventional
Actual Enrollment :
11 participants
Allocation:
Randomized
Intervention Model:
Parallel Assignment
Masking:
Single (Participant)
Primary Purpose:
Treatment
Official Title:
Aponeurotic Stimulation Effect on Parkinson Bradykinesia
Study Start Date :
Nov 1, 2008
Actual Primary Completion Date :
May 1, 2009

Arms and Interventions

Arm Intervention/Treatment
Experimental: Aponeurotic stimulation group

The stimulation consisted of manipulating, with a hook (the diacutaneous fibrolysis method), the aponeurotic tissues enrobing the heads of the trunk and upper limb muscles.

Other: Aponeurotic stimulation (the diacutaneous fibrolysis method)
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.

Active Comparator: Placebo stimulation group

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 Aponeurotic stimulation group.

Other: Placebo stimulation
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

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

  1. 3D kinematic movement parameters and upper limb muscles electromyographic activation [Participants will be followed for the duration of the clinical test (2 weeks)]

Secondary Outcome Measures

  1. Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) [Participants will be followed for the duration of the clinical test (2 weeks)]

Eligibility Criteria

Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study:
N/A and Older
Sexes Eligible for Study:
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
No
Inclusion Criteria:
  • Clinical diagnosis of Parkinson Disease
Exclusion Criteria:
  • Patients with a limitation in the shoulder range of motion necessary to perform pointing movements

Contacts and Locations

Locations

Site City State Country Postal Code
1 ULB-FSM Laboratory of neurophysiology and movement biomechanics Brussels Belgium 1070

Sponsors and Collaborators

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

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Ana Bengoetxea, PhD, Université Libre de Bruxelles
  • Study Chair: Françoise Leurs, PhD Student, Université Libre de Bruxelles
  • Study Chair: Leslie Rigal, Master Student, Université Libre de Bruxelles
  • Study Director: Guy Cheron, PhD, Université Libre de Bruxelles

Study Documents (Full-Text)

None provided.

More Information

Publications

None provided.
Responsible Party:
Ana Bengoetxea, Assistant Professor, Université Libre de Bruxelles
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
NCT01544738
Other Study ID Numbers:
  • LMNB-01
First Posted:
Mar 6, 2012
Last Update Posted:
Mar 6, 2012
Last Verified:
Feb 1, 2012
Keywords provided by Ana Bengoetxea, Assistant Professor, Université Libre de Bruxelles
Additional relevant MeSH terms:

Study Results

No Results Posted as of Mar 6, 2012