Study on Combining Physical Exercise and Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation to Improve Movement in Parkinsons Disease and Explore Brain Mechanisms

What this Trial Is About

Parkinsons disease is a neurological condition that significantly affects movement and quality of life. Researchers are evaluating how physical exercise combined with transcranial direct current stimulation tDCS, a non-invasive brain stimulation technique, affects motor function in people with Parkinsons disease. This study also aims to explore the underlying brain mechanisms involved in these motor improvements using techniques like electroencephalography and transcranial magnetic stimulation. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of four groups reactive exercise with real tDCS over the motor cortex opposite the most affected side, reactive exercise with sham placebo tDCS, reactive exercise alone, or no intervention with only evaluations. Each intervention group will complete 24 sessions over several weeks, while the control group will be evaluated before and after a 5-week period without intervention. During the study, participants will undergo assessments of walking speed, step length, and cadence at both preferred and maximal speeds, as well as reaction time tests and the Timed Up and Go test over a 7-week period. Additional tests will measure hand dexterity and balance under various conditions with and without cognitive tasks. Researchers will monitor motor function and brain activity to understand treatment effects. The total study duration includes baseline and follow-up evaluations to capture changes over time.

Effects of Physical Exercise Combined With Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Parkinson's Disease