Dysfunction of Coordination

Researchers are investigating how balance and walking abilities relate to detailed movement measurements in people with Multiple Sclerosis MS. This observational study focuses on understanding the connection between clinical tests of function and objective biomechanical data. The goal is to identify which movement characteristics best reflect balance, gait, and physical performance challenges faced by individuals with MS. Participants will attend a single laboratory session where they undergo biomechanical analysis using the Vicon motion capture system. They will complete functional assessments of balance, gait, and physical performance, as well as questionnaires about fear of falling and fatigue. Spasticity in the lower limbs will also be assessed during this visit. During the session, participants will perform tests such as the mini-BESTest for balance, Functional Gait Assessment, Short Physical Performance Battery, and a 2-minute walk test. Questionnaires like the Fall Efficacy Scale and Fatigue Severity Scale will be completed. Researchers will analyze these collected data to explore how biomechanical and functional measures relate, aiming to improve assessment tools for MS rehabilitation.

This observational study investigates how self-compassion and self-efficacy relate to symptom severity, functional ability, and quality of life in adults diagnosed with Parkinsons disease. The research aims to better understand these psychological factors in people living with Parkinsons disease stages 1 to 3, within an age range of 40 to 85 years. Participants will complete a set of self-report questionnaires during one session to assess their levels of self-compassion, self-efficacy, symptom severity, functional status, and quality of life. No therapeutic treatments or interventions are provided. The study collects data at a single time point to analyze associations among these outcomes. During the study visit, participants will be assessed with various scales and tests including the Self-Compassion Scale, Self-Efficacy for Managing Chronic Disease scale, Unified Parkinsons Disease Rating Scale, Timed Up and Go test, Six-Minute Walk test, Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test, and Parkinsons Disease Questionnaire-39. These assessments help evaluate physical function, symptoms, and quality of life. The study is led by Acibadem University and participation involves completing questionnaires and physical tests in one session.

Researchers are evaluating a low-cost augmented reality platform for balance training in patients with balance disorders caused by degenerative injuries or cerebrovascular diseases. The study aims to determine if the system is usable, acceptable, safe, and if it improves balance. The trial is a usability study conducted by the Hospital Universitari Vall dHebron Research Institute. The intervention has two phases the first phase lasts four weeks with supervised balance training sessions at the hospital, conducted for 60 minutes, three times a week. If patients meet inclusion criteria, the intervention continues for two additional weeks at home with a family member trained to assist as a training partner. The platform uses different exercise protocols accessed through RGSweb, including balance and sit-to-stand exercises with visual targets and movement tracking. Participants undergo three assessments before treatment Day 0, after the hospital phase Week 4, and after the home phase Week 6. Evaluations include usability scales, adherence measures, balance tests like the Berg Balance Scale, postural sway, sit-to-stand tests, balance confidence, and quality of life questionnaires. Safety is monitored throughout, and adherence is tracked during both hospital and home interventions.

Researchers are evaluating a 12-week home-based mobile health mHealth intervention called the Shining Star study, aimed at improving adherence to the 24-Hour Movement Guidelines among preschool-aged children 3-4 years old who currently meet zero or one of the guidelines for physical activity, screen time, and sleep. The trial seeks to determine if the intervention increases the number of children meeting all three guidelines and if the program is feasible for parents to implement. This randomized controlled trial compares an intervention group using the app to a waitlist control group. Participants in the intervention group will use the Shining Star mobile app, which delivers weekly lessons and behavior-related goals through concise messages, gamification features, behavior trackers, and a parent forum. The control group will receive no intervention during the initial 12 weeks but will complete the same assessments as the intervention group. After 12 weeks, control group participants will gain access to the app and resources. Physical activity and sleep will be tracked with accelerometers, and parents will complete questionnaires. Childrens physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep patterns will be assessed at baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks using accelerometers. Parents will provide feedback on their childs movement behaviors, development, and app usability through questionnaires and weekly surveys. Additional measures include motor skills tests, cognition assessments, behavioral problems, executive function, and BMI. Data will be securely stored and analyzed to evaluate the interventions impact and app feasibility over the 12-week period.

Researchers are developing a multicenter registry to collect and share data on pediatric patients who have undergone deep brain stimulation DBS for movement disorders such as dystonia, epilepsy, Tourette syndrome, and mood disorders. The study aims to improve understanding of DBS safety and effectiveness in children, as current data are limited and individual centers often have too few cases for strong research. This registry will support large-scale analyses and help refine DBS as a treatment option for hyperkinetic movement disorders in the pediatric population. The study involves gathering both retrospective and prospective clinical data from multiple pediatric centers. The registry will collect information on surgical techniques, patient outcomes, implant sites, and long-term effects of DBS. This collaborative data-sharing approach enables comprehensive evaluation of which patients benefit most from DBS and how it impacts their quality of life over time. Participants include children aged 0 to 18 years who have already received or are scheduled to receive DBS for neurological movement disorders. Data will be collected over five years to monitor safety, efficacy, and quality of life outcomes. The study does not involve treatment administration but focuses on gathering and analyzing clinical information. Parental or legal guardian consent is required for prospective participation.

Cerebellar ataxia is a condition that affects coordination, balance, walking, limb movements, and eye movements due to problems in the cerebellum. This study aims to understand the clinical and genetic features of cerebellar ataxia by creating a registered group of Chinese patients with this condition to follow over time. This observational study does not involve any treatment or intervention. It includes patients diagnosed with cerebellar ataxia by two neurologists, their relatives, and unrelated healthy individuals to serve as controls. Participants or their legal guardians must be willing and able to give informed consent. Participants will be followed up for up to 20 years to observe the occurrence of hereditary cerebellar ataxia. Researchers will collect clinical and genetic information during the study period. The study also tracks participant adherence and compliance with scheduled visits, with attention to those able to complete trial procedures and visit schedules.

Researchers are investigating epilepsy-dyskinesia syndromes, which are rare genetic diseases causing both movement disorders and epilepsy in children. This multinational retrospective survey, supported by the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society, aims to collect detailed clinical and molecular data to better understand these conditions. The study focuses on identifying patterns in disease features, progression, and genetic links to improve knowledge and support precision medicine. The study collects previously recorded data from multiple countries, harmonizing information on clinical features, disease progression, age of onset, genetic variants, and coexisting neurological conditions. By standardizing this data, the survey addresses challenges in rare disease research like small, dispersed patient groups and inconsistent protocols. The goal is to build a shared clinical database and analyze how movement and seizure disorders relate at both clinical and molecular levels. Participants are children aged 0 to 18 years with diagnosed movement disorders linked to specific genetic variants. The study reviews existing medical records and genetic information without new treatments or interventions. Researchers will assess the disease spectrum, how movement disorders affect quality of life, and the effectiveness of symptomatic treatments over one year. The study encourages international collaboration to advance understanding and improve care for these rare conditions.

Researchers are evaluating an experimental vestibular implant system designed to improve balance in adults with bilateral vestibulopathy, a condition causing balance deficits and hearing loss. The implant is combined with a cochlear implant sound processor and programming software, aiming to preserve hearing in the implanted ear. This study focuses on adults with normal to severe hearing loss in the inner ear who have not benefited from conventional rehabilitation. The vestibular implant is surgically placed under the skin behind the ear in the mastoid bone and includes an electrode that stimulates the vestibular nerve. A sound processor worn behind the ear powers the implant via a coil. Participants will receive this implant and undergo a personalized rehabilitation program. The study evaluates changes in balance and hearing over time after implantation. Participants will be assessed before surgery and followed for six months after activation of the implant. Assessments include balance performance tests like the Dynamic Gait Index and Functional Gait Assessment, posturography tests, hearing threshold measurements, and questionnaires on dizziness, fall risk, and quality of life. Device or procedure-related adverse events will also be monitored throughout the study period.

Researchers are studying how electrical stimulation combined with walking practice impacts the connections between the brain and muscles in able-bodied adults. The goal is to develop new personalized rehabilitation methods based on understanding how brain and spinal circuits respond to these stimulations to improve walking performance. This preliminary study focuses on healthy individuals to explore changes in brain circuits and gait performance induced by electrical stimulation and stepping practice. Participants will take part in 1 to 5 sessions over 2 to 8 weeks. Sessions include treadmill or overground walking practice with or without functional electrical stimulation FES applied to leg muscles. FES is delivered during specific phases of walking using a specialized device to stimulate ankle muscles. Some participants will also undergo paired associative stimulation combining peripheral electrical stimulation and cortical magnetic pulses. Walking bouts range from 30 seconds to 6 minutes with rest breaks. During visits lasting up to 5 hours each, researchers will measure brain and spinal cord circuit excitability noninvasively before, during, and after walking or stimulation sessions. Assessments include gait performance and neurophysiology tests lasting up to 36 minutes. The study tracks changes in how brain and spinal circuits control muscles and walking ability. Participants safety, ability to follow commands, and informed consent are ensured throughout the study, which continues until December 2026.

Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy DPN is a common problem in people with type 2 diabetes, causing symptoms like pain, numbness, and balance difficulties. These issues can lead to falls, foot ulcers, and lower quality of life. Current treatments mainly focus on symptom management, so this study aims to evaluate if adding Neural Mobilization NM to balance training can further improve pain, balance, and quality of life in people with DPN. The trial is a randomized controlled study involving 32 patients aged 50 to 75 years. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups for six weeks one group will receive Neural Mobilization combined with balance training plus standard care, while the other group will receive balance training alone along with standard care. Each group will have two 30-minute sessions per week. The NM protocol includes hot packs, TENS, nerve sliding and tensioning techniques, and various balance exercises that increase in difficulty over time. The balance training group receives similar physical therapy without the neural mobilization techniques. Throughout the study, participants will undergo assessments at the beginning and end of the six-week treatment period. Researchers will measure pain levels using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale, balance using the Berg Balance Scale, and quality of life with the Norfolk Quality of Life-Diabetic Neuropathy questionnaire. Data will be analyzed to determine if adding Neural Mobilization offers additional benefits. Ethical approval has been obtained, and participants will provide informed consent before joining.