Effects Of tDCS With Physical Therapy On Rehabilitation In Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson Disease Clinical Trial

Official title: Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Associated With Physical Therapy on Motor Rehabilitation in Parkinson´s Disease Patients

Status Completed

Clinical Trial Summary

The present study aims to investigate the effect of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) associated with physiotherapy in parkinson´s rehabilitation. Previous studies showed that tDCS could reduce the bradykinesia, one of the symptom of Parkinson disease. In this way, this study will combine tDCS with physiotherapy in order to enhance the motor rehabilitation and the quality of life.

Clinical Trial Description

12 patients were participated of this study.After screening to check the eligibility criteria and giving informed consent, they were randomized in two groups. All patients were submitted to a 10 therapeutic sessions that occurred 3 times per week.

Before, immediately after and 1 month after the last session patients were submitted to an evaluation with the follow tests: Unified Parkinson´s Disease Rating Scale(UPDRS), Jebsen Taylor Test (JTT) and Parkinson's Disease Quality of Life (PDQL). Furthermore, before and after each session the patients were submitted to transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to evaluate cortical excitability through motor threshold and motor evoked potential.

In experimental sessions, the subjects always received physiotherapy with conventional techniques, the protocol followed the clinical practice guideline for physical therapy in Parkinson disease with the Royal Dutch Society Therapy. During tDCS protocol the patients seated in a comfortable chair with head and arm rests. Continuous current was applied using a pair of saline-soaked surface sponge electrodes (surface 35 cm2), the anode electrode was placed over the primary motor cortex and cathode above contralateral orbit. tDCS was applied of twice stimulation of 13 minutes with 20 minutes of interval between them and a current strength of 1mA. Sham tDCS was applied by current flow of 30s. ;

Study Design

Allocation: Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment, Masking: Double Blind (Subject, Investigator), Primary Purpose: Treatment

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Parkinson Disease

• NCT number: NCT01877148
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: Universidade Federal de Pernambuco
• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 2
• Start date: January 2010
• Completion date: December 2012