The purpose of this study is to examine the possibility of a new, non-invasive, non-drug treatment for Parkinson's disease. The treatment involves gentle vibratory stimulation delivered to the fingertips (called 'vibrotactile stimulation'). Along with the treatment, participants will also undergo kinematic testing.
Patient will be phone screened and/or have a physical and neurological examination to determine if it is appropriate for them to participate in this study. This testing includes the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale, Part III (UPDRS III). Research assistants will explain the study and obtain informed consent. There will be three consecutive days of testing, as well as 2 follow up visits at 1 and 4 weeks. Visits include the following: Patients will have sensors put on their hands, feet, and chest. These sensors measure their movement while they perform kinematic tasks such as forward walking, wrist movements, and the UPDRS III. Patients will also be given vibrotactile stimulation for a total of 4 hours throughout the day. During this time, patients will be provided with books/movies as entertainment, and they may move around freely. Patients will also be asked to complete several questionnaires throughout the visits about their Parkinson's symptoms.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
6
The tactile stimulator is being tested for an off-label use as treatment for Parkinson's disease. There are nodes embedded into the fingertips of gloves that gently vibrate in an alternating pattern. The sensation is similar to the feeling of a phone vibrating. This is a non-significant risk device.
Stanford Movement Disorders Clinic
Stanford, California, United States
Number of Patients Reporting Any Adverse Effects
Questionnaire asks patients to record any adverse effects they experienced.
Time frame: 1 Month
Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale, Part III
We used the motor portion of the Unified Parkinson's disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) and excluded rigidity and speech from the assessment. Overall range of the score for the motor portion (excluding rigidity and speech) range from 0 to 108, where 0= best possible outcome and 108= worst possible outcome.
Time frame: 1 Month
Root Mean Square Velocity
Using gyroscopes to track patient movement testing, root mean square velocity (Vrms) of of the wrist during repetitive wrist flexion extension task was obtained.
Time frame: 1 Month
Gait Asymmetry
Using data collected from inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensors on subject, we were able to measure gait asymmetry. For each subject, the swing time (SW) was calculated and averaged across strides for the left and right legs (SWL and SWR). We obtained gait asymmetry using the following: 100 x /ln(SWR/SWL)/. 0 marks perfect symmetry and greater values higher asymmetry. There is no maximum limit.
Time frame: 1 Month
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