The Effects of Vibrotactile Stimulation in Patients With Movement Disorders
Condition: Parkinson Disease; Essential Tremor; Dystonia
MeSH terms: Parkinson Disease; Tremor; Dystonia; Dystonic Disorders; Movement Disorders; Essential Tremor
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      Vibration applied to the skin has been anecdotally reported to potentially improve motor
      control in patients with movement disorders including Parkinson's disease, however few
      devices have been studied formally. In this study, the investigators will test the effect of
      skin surface vibration applied non-invasively to patients with movement disorders to
      determine if there are any beneficial effects on common tasks of motor control and/or
      abnormal motor symptoms in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), essential tremor (ET), and
      dystonia.
    

Detailed description: 
      This study is to evaluate the feasibility, reliability, and clinical effects of Non-invasive
      vibrotactile stimulation (VTS) on basic tasks of motor control and on the motor symptoms of
      patients with movement disorders. VTS Settings will include continuous stimulation,
      intermittent stimulation during walking, and sham stimulation.

      The investigators will recruit 30 patients with PD who are between the ages of 18-80 years
      old and independently living in the community. The investigators will additionally recruit up
      to 5 patients with ET and up to 5 patients with dystonia.
    

Intervention name(s): skin surface vibration; light skin surface vibration- SHAM
Intervention type(s): Other; Other
Intervention description(s): This study will use four vibrating devices worn on each of the limbs. The devices are paired with a cell phone application (to be used solely by research investigators) that adjusts the vibration settings. The intensity of the vibration produced by the device is far less than that produced by commercially available massagers used for relaxation using similar technology. The sensor in the device is a tri-axial accelerometer and gyroscope that measures position using the same technology as smartphones.; This study will use four vibrating devices worn on each of the limbs. The devices are paired with a cell phone application (to be used solely by research investigators) that adjusts the vibration settings. The intensity of the vibration produced by the device is far less than that produced by commercially available massagers used for relaxation using similar technology. The sensor in the device is a tri-axial accelerometer and gyroscope that measures position using the same technology as smartphones. Worn at the lowest frequency will simulate the active arms with no potential change in symptoms.
Allocation: Non-Randomized
Intervention model: Crossover Assignment
Intervention model description: All participants will undergo tremor measurements and perform motor control tasks at baseline and during continuous vibratory stimulation and sham stimulation.
Masking: Double (Participant, Outcomes Assessor)
Primary purpose: Treatment
Keywords: Parkinson Disease; Essential tremor; Dystonia; Vibrotactile stimulation