Actively Recruiting
Affordances and Impairments: A Paradigm for Understanding Obstacle Crossing in Parkinson's Disease
Led by University of Haifa · Updated on 2025-07-22
180
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
8 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
Sponsors
U
University of Haifa
Lead Sponsor
U
University of Haifa, Israel
Collaborating Sponsor
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
Researchers are studying how young adults, older adults, and people with Parkinson's disease (PwP) perceive their ability to cross obstacles while walking. The study explores how these perceptions relate to actual obstacle crossing performance and motor and cognitive impairments caused by Parkinson's disease. Understanding this relationship may help improve rehabilitation and reduce fall risks. The study is observational and takes place at the Motor Performance Laboratory, University of Haifa. Participants include 60 people with Parkinson's disease and 120 healthy adults divided into older and younger groups. Participants perform walking tasks involving obstacle crossing on different surfaces, such as floor and synthetic grass turf. Before walking, they judge their ability to cross obstacles safely. The study uses eye-tracking glasses to record visual exploration and wearable sensors to measure walking speed and step length. During the approximately 3-hour laboratory session, researchers assess perception accuracy and gaze behavior related to obstacle crossing. Additional evaluations include motor and cognitive tests like the Movement Disorders Society Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale and the Stroop Test. Results will help understand the link between perception, motor and cognitive impairments, and gait performance, potentially guiding new strategies for safer walking in Parkinson's disease.
CONDITIONS
Brief Title
Perception of Affordances and Obstacle Crossing in People With Parkinson's Disease and Healthy Adults
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Participants aged 20 to 80 years
- Ability to walk independently outdoors without assistive devices
- For Parkinson's Disease group: Diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease confirmed by medical records
- For healthy control groups: No neurological or orthopedic conditions affecting gait
You will not qualify if you...
- Freezing of gait in Parkinson's Disease group, indicated by a score greater than 0 on the Freezing of Gait Questionnaire
- Severe visual impairment not correctable with glasses or lenses
- Cognitive impairment, defined as a score below 18 on the telephone-based Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE)
- Any orthopedic condition, pain, or other medical condition that may affect walking, based on self-report
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility
Your Study Journey
Duration - 2 to 4 weeks
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial.
1 visit (in-person)
Duration - About 3 hours in a single session
Participants perform walking tasks involving obstacle crossing while their gait and visual exploration patterns are recorded using wearable sensors and eye-tracking glasses during a single laboratory session.
1 visit (in-person)
Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
University of Haifa, Motor Performance Laboratory
Haifa, Israel, 3103301
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
G
Galit Yogev Seligmann, PhD
M
Michal Kafri, 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
3
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