This study aims to investigate the effects of repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation combined with modified otago exercise program balance training intervention on motor cortex excitability, balance, and gait performance in patients with Parkinson's disease.
This study plans to recruit 20 patients with Parkinson's disease. The experimental design is a double-blinded, randomized controlled trial, where neither the participants nor the evaluators will know the group assignments. All participants will receive rTMS "activation" followed by a modified Otago exercise program (balance training) specifically targeting Parkinson's disease. The intervention will last for 5 weeks, with sessions twice a week, totaling 10 treatments. Before the intervention, participants will be randomly and evenly assigned to two groups: a high-frequency stimulation group (HF-rTMS) and a sham control group. This study will use the "Magstim Rapid² TMS system" for repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation provided by the Department of Rehabilitation at Chung Shan Medical University Hospital. For the sham control group, based on recommendations from previous related studies, participants will receive the same stimulation intensity as the experimental group, but the treatment coil will be placed on the head rotated by 90°, minimizing possible neurophysiological responses. This approach ensures a safe and humane experimental design. Additionally, assessments will be conducted before the intervention, after all treatment sessions are completed, and at a one-month follow-up. After completing the pre-test, the subjects will be randomly assigned to receive either high-frequency or sham rTMS treatment. The stimulation site is based on several recent systematic reviews and meta-analyses investigating the effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease (Conte D et al., 2025; Yang et al., 2018; Li et al., 2022), targeting the bilateral primary motor cortex for the lower limbs (M1-LL). The treatment lasts approximately 25 minutes. Immediately after the magnetic stimulation treatment, a 60-minute modified Otago exercise program (balance training) will be conducted. The balance training will be guided by a professional physical therapist.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
A painless, non-invasive, and well-tolerated non-pharmacological treatment method-Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS)-delivers repeated and systematic magnetic field stimulation to specific brain regions through a stimulation coil placed on the scalp. These repeated magnetic pulses not only alter the excitability of the targeted area but also affect anatomically connected brain regions. The parameters are as follows: Frequency: 10 Hz; Intensity: 90% RMT; Duration: 4 seconds; Rest: 26 seconds; Trains: 25 times; Pulses: 1000\*2; Total time: 25 minutes.
In this study, the sham stimulation group was designed based on previous related research and expert recommendations. Participants in this group will receive 20% of the stimulation intensity used in the treatment group, which is significantly lower than the treatment group's 90%, ensuring a safe and humane experimental design. The parameters are as follows: Frequency: 10 Hz; Intensity: 20% RMT; Duration: 4 seconds; Rest: 26 seconds; Trains: 25 times; Pulses: 1000\*2; Total time: 25 minutes.
Corticospinal inhibition : Cortical silent period (CSP) (ms)
Cortical silent period (CSP) measured by Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), with higher ms indicating stronger corticospinal inhibitory effect
Time frame: Baseline, week 5 and follow-up 1 month
Intracortical inhibition : Short-interval intracortical inhibition (SICI) (%)
Short-interval intracortical inhibition (SICI) measured by Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), with higher percentage indicating stronger intracortical inhibitory effect
Time frame: Baseline, week 5 and follow-up 1 month
Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test (Mini-BESTest)
Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test (Mini-BESTest) is used to assess balance performance. Total scores range from 0 to 28, with higher scores indicating better balance and functional mobility.
Time frame: Baseline, week 5 and follow-up 1 month
Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I)
Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I) is used to assess confidence in balance. Total scores range from 16 to 64, with higher scores indicating more balanced confidence
Time frame: Baseline, week 5 and follow-up 1 month
Gait speed (m/s) measured by GAITRite
Time frame: Baseline, week 5 and follow-up 1 month
Step length (m) measured by GAITRite
Time frame: Baseline, week 5 and follow-up 1 month
Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale, Part III: Motor Examination (MDS-UPDRS-III)
MDS-UPDRS-III is used to assess motor symptoms in patients with Parkinson's disease. Total scores range from 0 to 132, with higher scores indicating more severe motor symptoms.
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TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
20
Time frame: Baseline, week 5 and follow-up 1 month