NCT06133283

Endurance Exercise & Virtual Reality for Optimizing Cortical Excitability and Neuroplasticity in PD

High Intensity Endurance Exercise as a Primer to Virtual Reality for Optimizing Cortical Excitability and Neuroplasticity in Parkinson's Disease (PD)

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 16 (estimated)
• Sponsor: The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 85 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

This study aims to determine the effects of aerobic exercise as a primer to add-on virtual reality (VR)-based rehabilitation on balance, postural control and neuroplasticity (ability of brain to adapt in structure and function) in individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD). This study will utilize two groups - one group will receive the exercise and VR, while the other group will receive stretching exercise and VR over eight weeks. The study team will administer outcomes at baseline, post-intervention (8 weeks) and follow-up (6 weeks after post-assessment).

Detailed description

This study will enroll individuals diagnosed with Parkinson's disease who will be randomly assigned to 2 groups: 1) high intensity endurance exercise and virtual reality (experimental) or 2) stretching and virtual reality (control) for eight weeks (three sessions, thrice weekly). Outcomes will include balance and gait measures, blood-based biomarkers, neuroplasticity measures (assessed by transcranial magnetic stimulation), spinal reflex excitability (measured by H reflex) and quality of life.

Conditions

• Parkinson Disease

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	High intensity endurance exercise	High intensity interval exercise on a recumbent stepper for 30 minutes, 3 days per week.
BEHAVIORAL	Stretching exercise	Stretches of face, neck, upper extremity, trunk and lower extremity muscles including whole body stretches for 30 minutes, 3 days per week.
BEHAVIORAL	Virtual reality (VR)-based gaming	VR games will involve games that challenge balance such as reaching different targets during activities such as sit to stand, dodging obstacles etc. Participants will play approximately 6 games for 30 minutes, 3 days a week.

Timeline

• Start date: 2024-02-09
• Primary completion: 2026-12-31
• Completion: 2026-12-31
• First posted: 2023-11-15
• Last updated: 2026-03-31

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States