Volume 11, Issue 10 p. 1241-1248
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Vibrotactile Foot Device for Freezing of Gait in Parkinson's Disease: A Pilot Study

Shanshan Cen MD, PhD

Shanshan Cen MD, PhD

Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing, China

Department of Neurobiology, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing, China

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Jinghong Ma MD, PhD

Jinghong Ma MD, PhD

Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing, China

Department of Neurobiology, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing, China

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Hong Sun MD, PhD

Hong Sun MD, PhD

National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Beijing, China

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Hui Zhang MD, PhD

Hui Zhang MD, PhD

Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing, China

Department of Neurobiology, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing, China

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Yuan Li MD, PhD

Yuan Li MD, PhD

Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing, China

Department of Neurobiology, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing, China

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Wei Mao MD, PhD

Wei Mao MD, PhD

Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing, China

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Erhe Xu MD, PhD

Erhe Xu MD, PhD

Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing, China

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Shanshan Mei MD, PhD

Shanshan Mei MD, PhD

Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing, China

Department of Neurobiology, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing, China

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Jagadish K. Chhetri PhD

Jagadish K. Chhetri PhD

National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Beijing, China

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Zheng Ruan MD

Zheng Ruan MD

Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing, China

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Hui Wang MD

Hui Wang MD

Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing, China

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Kailiang Wang MD, PhD

Corresponding Author

Kailiang Wang MD, PhD

Department of Neurosurgery, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing, China

Correspondence to: Dr. Kailiang Wang, Department of Neurosurgery, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, #45 Changchun Street, 100053 Beijing, China; E-mail: [email protected]; Prof. Piu Chan, Department of Neurology and Neurobiology, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, #45 Changchun Street, 100053 Beijing, China; E-mail: [email protected]

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Piu Chan MD, PhD

Corresponding Author

Piu Chan MD, PhD

Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing, China

Department of Neurobiology, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing, China

National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Beijing, China

Key Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Diseases of the Ministry of Education, Beijing Key Laboratory on Parkinson's Disease, Parkinson's Disease Center for Beijing Institute on Brain Disorders, Clinical and Research Center for Parkinson's Disease of Capital Medical University, Beijing, China

Correspondence to: Dr. Kailiang Wang, Department of Neurosurgery, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, #45 Changchun Street, 100053 Beijing, China; E-mail: [email protected]; Prof. Piu Chan, Department of Neurology and Neurobiology, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, #45 Changchun Street, 100053 Beijing, China; E-mail: [email protected]

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First published: 02 August 2024

Abstract

Background

Vibrotactile stimulation has been studied in its efficacy of reducing freezing of gait (FOG) in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the results are still controversial. We evaluated the efficacy of a newly developed vibrotactile foot device on freezing severity and gait measures in PD patients with FOG.

Objective

To evaluate the efficacy of vibrotactile foot device on PD patients with FOG.

Methods

Thirty-three PD patients with FOG were examined during their “off” medication state. The efficacy of the vibrotactile foot device was evaluated using a gait protocol comprising walking trials with vibrotactile stimulation “off” and “on.” Walking trials were videotaped for the offline rating by two movement disorder specialists. The Opal inertial sensor unit (128 Hz; Mobility Lab; APDM Inc., Portland, OR, USA) was used for quantitative gait analysis.

Results

The results demonstrated 33.1% reduction in number of FOG episodes (P < 0.001) and 32.6% reduction of freezing episodes (P < 0.001). Quantitative gait analysis showed a significant increase in step length (P = 0.033). A moderate negative correlation was observed between the change of percent time frozen and age (r = −0.415, P = 0.016). 73% of participants reported minimal to substantial improvement in walking with this vibrating stimulation delivered by the vibrotactile foot device.

Conclusions

The vibrotactile foot device is an efficient device that could significantly reduce freezing severity and provide gait regulation to patients with PD experiencing frequent freezing. It could potentially be used in the home environment for improving the quality of life.