Actively Recruiting
Gait Pattern Analysis in Neurological Disease Comparing Parkinsonian Disorders and Healthy Controls
Led by Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center · Updated on 2025-06-08
120
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
N/A
Total Duration
On this page
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
Researchers are evaluating whether speed-dependent gait patterns can be identified in patients with neurological conditions that affect walking, focusing on individuals with parkinsonian disorders. This study compares gait in 60 subjects with parkinsonism, 10 with ataxic syndromes, and 40 age- and sex-matched healthy controls to see if their walking patterns differ in predictable ways. The goal is also to identify clusters of gait patterns within subgroups based on co-morbidities or treatments. Participants will complete walking trials on an 18-foot walkway with pressure sensors at different speeds: baseline, slower, and faster than usual. Those with Parkinson's and related disorders will perform 9 walking trials in the first visit. There is an optional second visit for about 20 Parkinson's subjects willing to stop their anti-Parkinson medication and, if applicable, temporarily stop deep brain stimulation, to perform additional walking trials under these conditions. Separate groups include healthy controls matched by age and sex, ataxia subjects, and Huntington disease subjects to validate the gait analysis model. During the study, participants will be assessed through repeated walking trials to measure gait speed, swing duration, stance duration, cadence, and stride length over approximately one year. The study involves collecting detailed gait data without interventions during the first visit. The optional second visit evaluates the effect of medication and stimulation withdrawal on walking. Participants' cognitive abilities are assessed for consent capacity, and safety is monitored to ensure walking trials are suitable. The total participation time varies based on visits attended and follow-up assessments.
CONDITIONS
Brief Title
Gait Analysis in Neurological Disease
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Age between 18 and 85 years for both healthy and affected subjects
- Presence of at least two of the following: bradykinesia, rest tremor, rigidity, postural instability for affected subjects
- Montreal Cognitive Assessment used to determine consent ability; subjects with score ≤ 21 require legal representative consent (affected subjects only)
- Includes subjects with indeterminate parkinsonism or atypical Parkinsonism such as vascular Parkinsonism, Multiple System Atrophy, Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus, or Corticobasal Degeneration (affected subjects only)
- Subjects using assistive walking devices are eligible (affected subjects only)
- Healthy subjects must have no complaints of difficulty walking such as arthritic pain, fatigue, or slowness
You will not qualify if you...
- Alternative causes for parkinsonism like head trauma or drug-induced parkinsonism (affected subjects only)
- Currently treated for major medical illness requiring hospitalization within 14 days (both healthy and affected subjects)
- Currently participating in another clinical study with an intervention arm (both healthy and affected subjects)
- Unable to consent due to cognitive impairment without a legally authorized representative (both healthy and affected subjects)
- Cardiac or pulmonary conditions limiting safe participation in walking trials (e.g., recent heart failure hospitalization, recent myocardial infarction within 90 days, oxygen requirement) (both healthy and affected subjects)
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
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Your Study Journey
Duration - 2 to 4 weeks
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial.
1 visit (in-person)
Duration - 1 day
Participants perform walking trials at baseline and at different speeds to assess gait patterns using a walkway embedded with pressure sensors.
1 visit (in-person)
Duration - 1 day
Participants with Parkinsonian disorders who are willing may return for an additional visit during which they temporarily stop anti-Parkinson medication and/or deep brain stimulation to perform further walking trials.
1 optional visit (in-person)
Duration - Approximately 1 year
Participants are monitored for gait speed and other gait-related outcomes over approximately 1 year.
Follow-up assessments as scheduled
Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
Clinical Research Center BIDMC
Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02215
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
V
Veronique Vanderhorst, MD PhD
How is the study designed?
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Masking
N/A
Allocation
N/A
Model
N/A
Primary Purpose
N/A
Number of Arms
4
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