An experimental study will be carried out to examine how a manual therapy protocol can influence a series of parameters related to motor and non-motor symptoms in patients who have Parkinson's disease / Parkinsonism. To do this, an intervention will be carried out that will last a minimum of 6 weeks. In addition to their ongoing treatment, the study subjects will receive a maximum of 2 sessions of manual therapy each week. They will undergo a series of measurements both before and after the intervention related to gait, balance, non-motor symptoms, and some more specific parameters of gait. The study's main objective is to obtain information about possible treatment models based on manual therapy for Parkinson's disease. It is also hoped to compile a series of results that will lead to conclusions and benefit the development of physiotherapy for this disease. It is also hoped that this will help those affected so that the treatment is as comprehensive as possible and that the physiotherapist can use as many tools as are available to them to address the pathology.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
60
The techniques were divided into three main groups: first, those carried out in transverse planes, then carried out in a specific zone, and finally, those aimed at the course of the vagus nerve. The techniques are carried out by physiotherapists with more than 15 years of healthcare experience and trained in manual therapy with more than 10 years of experience in this field.
The Sham techniques were divided into three main groups: first, those carried out in transverse planes, then carried out in a specific zone, and finally, those aimed at the course of the vagus nerve. The Sham techniques are carried out by physiotherapists with more than 15 years of healthcare experience and trained in manual therapy with more than 10 years of experience in this field.
Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud
San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
Autonomic nervous system activity
To evaluate the activity of the ANS through the indices of the Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS) and Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS). These two parameters are the main variables of the study and were evaluated before, during and after the manual protocols to be applied. For this purpose, the Elite HRV smartphone application was used, which connects to a Polar transmitter band placed on the person's chest at the level of the xiphoid process of the sternum, which allowed constant monitoring of the subject during each of the interventions.
Time frame: Baseline and every six weeks for up to 6 months from the start
PD NMS Quest
PD NMS Quest: this is the questionnaire for non-motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease. It consists of 30 yes or no questions.
Time frame: Baseline and every six weeks for up to 6 months from the start
Mini-BESTest
Mini-BESTest: identified as the most comprehensive balance measurement for adults and the elderly. It has a series of items with their corresponding score, the maximum score that can be obtained at the end of the test is 28 points.
Time frame: Baseline and every six weeks for up to 6 months from the start
Berg Balance Scale
Berg Balance Scale: allows the static and dynamic balance abilities of a person to be assessed. Like other tests and scales, it has a series of items and the maximum score that can be achieved at the end of the test is 56 points.
Time frame: Baseline and every six weeks for up to 6 months from the start
Timed Up and Go (TUG)
Timed Up and Go (TUG): this is a test that consists of getting up from a chair, walking to a mark 3 metres away, turning around and sitting back down in the same chair. The time taken to complete the test is measured.
Time frame: Baseline and every six weeks for up to 6 months from the start
Tinetti scale
Tinetti scale: used to detect the risk of falls in the elderly, it consists of a series of items with their corresponding score. The maximum score that can be obtained at the end of the test is 28 points.
Time frame: Baseline and every six weeks for up to 6 months from the start
Range of Motion (ROMs)
Range of Motion (ROMs): using slow-motion recordings from a sagittal plane, the ranges of hip, knee, plantar and dorsal ankle flexion are measured while the person walks in a straight line. The recordings are then imported into software where the corresponding analyses of the captured images are carried out. The results are expressed in degrees.
Time frame: Baseline and every six weeks for up to 6 months from the start
Walk Measure
Stride length: the distance between the points of contact of the alternating feet with the ground. To evaluate this variable, the same process is used as for the ROMs (using slow-motion videos and subsequent analysis). The results are expressed in centimetres (cm). Bipodal support time: this is the time that both feet are supported on the ground while walking. To evaluate this variable, the same process was carried out as with the ROMs and the length of the step (using slow motion videos and subsequent analysis). The results are expressed in milliseconds (ms). Stride time: this is the time interval between two successive contacts of the same foot on the ground. To evaluate this variable, the same process is used as for ROMs, stride length and bipodal support time (using slow motion videos and subsequent analysis). The results are expressed in milliseconds (ms).
Time frame: Baseline and every six weeks for up to 6 months from the start
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