FAST-PD: Facilitating Motor Skill Learning in Parkinson's Disease

Sponsor

University of Erlangen-Nürnberg (Other)

Overall Status

Completed

CT.gov ID

NCT03245216

Collaborator

German Foundation for Neurology (Other), Department of Molecular Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, University Erlangen-Nürnberg (Other)

Enrollment

Location

Arms

Actual Duration (Months)

1.5

Patients Per Site Per Month

Study Details

Study Description

Brief Summary

The study is designed to assess the effects of aerobic exercise on motor learning in Parkinson patients. Specifically, the investigators examine whether a single bout of moderate intensity aerobic exercise, performed immediately before task practice, facilitates the acquisition and retention of a motor skill. In a cross-over design, participants will be randomly allocated to either the intervention group (aerobic exercise before motor learning) or control group (rest before motor learning).

Condition or Disease	Intervention/Treatment	Phase
Parkinson Disease	Behavioral: aerobic exercise Behavioral: rest Behavioral: motor learning	N/A

Detailed Description

Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that is characterized by motor control impairments, such as gait disturbances and postural instability. Beneficial effects of exercise are attributed to mechanisms of neuroplasticity, and task-specific motor training is consequently considered to be a motor learning process. While motor learning is preserved in persons with Parkinson's disease, slower acquisition rates and reduced retention have been reported compared to healthy individuals.

Thus, it is crucial to identify strategies to enhance motor learning in people with Parkinson's disease. Recent studies have accumulated evidence to show that aerobic exercise can facilitate motor skill learning. However, these observations are limited to healthy individuals and have not been addressed in individuals with neurologic conditions.

The present study is designed to assess the effects of a single bout of moderate intensity aerobic exercise on a motor skill learning task in patients with Parkinson's disease.

In a cross-over design, participants will be randomly allocated to one of two groups. Both groups will practice balancing on a specific stability platform (motor learning task). The experimental group will additionally perform a bout of aerobic exercise (cycle ergometer) immediately before the motor learning task, while the control group will rest before practice. Subsequently, the acquisition and one-day retention of the motor learning task will be examined.

Study Design

Study Type:

Interventional

Actual Enrollment :

28 participants

Allocation:

Randomized

Intervention Model:

Crossover Assignment

Masking:

None (Open Label)

Primary Purpose:

Treatment

Official Title:

Facilitating Motor Skill Learning by Aerobic Training in Parkinson's Disease

Actual Study Start Date :

Mar 1, 2017

Actual Primary Completion Date :

May 31, 2018

Actual Study Completion Date :

Sep 30, 2018

Arms and Interventions

Arm	Intervention/Treatment
Experimental: aerobic exercise + motor skill practice acute bout of aerobic exercise before motor learning	Behavioral: aerobic exercise Single-bout of moderate intensity aerobic exercise on a cycle ergometer before motor learning Behavioral: motor learning Motor learning task on a stability platform (Stabilometer). Participants try to keep the tiltable platform in an horizontal position.
Active Comparator: rest + motor skill practice seated rest before motor learning	Behavioral: rest Seated rest before motor learning Behavioral: motor learning Motor learning task on a stability platform (Stabilometer). Participants try to keep the tiltable platform in an horizontal position.

Arm

Intervention/Treatment

Experimental: aerobic exercise + motor skill practice

acute bout of aerobic exercise before motor learning

Behavioral: aerobic exercise

Single-bout of moderate intensity aerobic exercise on a cycle ergometer before motor learning

Behavioral: motor learning

Motor learning task on a stability platform (Stabilometer). Participants try to keep the tiltable platform in an horizontal position.

Active Comparator: rest + motor skill practice

seated rest before motor learning

Behavioral: rest

Seated rest before motor learning

Behavioral: motor learning

Motor learning task on a stability platform (Stabilometer). Participants try to keep the tiltable platform in an horizontal position.

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

Motor Learning (Precision) [Baseline (first trial of practice day 1), 1 day (last trial of practice day 1), and 7 days (first trial of 7-day retention session).]
Change from baseline in time in balance (±5° from horizontal) during balancing task.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Motor Learning (Variability) [Baseline (first trial of practice day 1), 1 day (last trial of practice day 1), and 7 days (first trial of 7-day retention session).]
Change from baseline in mean standard deviation (root mean square error) of platform deflection (in degree).