Facilitating Motor Skill Learning in Parkinson's Disease (FAST-PD)
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03245216 |
Recruitment Status :
Completed
First Posted : August 10, 2017
Last Update Posted : October 24, 2018
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Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
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Parkinson Disease | Behavioral: aerobic exercise Behavioral: rest Behavioral: motor learning | Not Applicable |
Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that is characterized by motor control impairments, such as gait disturbances and postural instability. Beneficial effects of exercise are attributed to mechanisms of neuroplasticity, and task-specific motor training is consequently considered to be a motor learning process. While motor learning is preserved in persons with Parkinson's disease, slower acquisition rates and reduced retention have been reported compared to healthy individuals.
Thus, it is crucial to identify strategies to enhance motor learning in people with Parkinson's disease. Recent studies have accumulated evidence to show that aerobic exercise can facilitate motor skill learning. However, these observations are limited to healthy individuals and have not been addressed in individuals with neurologic conditions.
The present study is designed to assess the effects of a single bout of moderate intensity aerobic exercise on a motor skill learning task in patients with Parkinson's disease.
In a cross-over design, participants will be randomly allocated to one of two groups. Both groups will practice balancing on a specific stability platform (motor learning task). The experimental group will additionally perform a bout of aerobic exercise (cycle ergometer) immediately before the motor learning task, while the control group will rest before practice. Subsequently, the acquisition and one-day retention of the motor learning task will be examined.
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Actual Enrollment : | 28 participants |
Allocation: | Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Crossover Assignment |
Masking: | None (Open Label) |
Primary Purpose: | Treatment |
Official Title: | Facilitating Motor Skill Learning by Aerobic Training in Parkinson's Disease |
Actual Study Start Date : | March 1, 2017 |
Actual Primary Completion Date : | May 31, 2018 |
Actual Study Completion Date : | September 30, 2018 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
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Experimental: aerobic exercise + motor skill practice
acute bout of aerobic exercise before motor learning
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Behavioral: aerobic exercise
Single-bout of moderate intensity aerobic exercise on a cycle ergometer before motor learning Behavioral: motor learning Motor learning task on a stability platform (Stabilometer). Participants try to keep the tiltable platform in an horizontal position. |
Active Comparator: rest + motor skill practice
seated rest before motor learning
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Behavioral: rest
Seated rest before motor learning Behavioral: motor learning Motor learning task on a stability platform (Stabilometer). Participants try to keep the tiltable platform in an horizontal position. |
- Motor Learning (Precision) [ Time Frame: Baseline (first trial of practice day 1), 1 day (last trial of practice day 1), and 7 days (first trial of 7-day retention session). ]Change from baseline in time in balance (±5° from horizontal) during balancing task.
- Motor Learning (Variability) [ Time Frame: Baseline (first trial of practice day 1), 1 day (last trial of practice day 1), and 7 days (first trial of 7-day retention session). ]Change from baseline in mean standard deviation (root mean square error) of platform deflection (in degree).

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years and older (Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Inclusion Criteria:
- Parkinson's disease stage 1-3 on Hoehn & Yahr scale
- Ability to stand unaided and walk without an assistive device
- Stable medication during the study period
Exclusion Criteria:
- On-off and wearing-off phenomena
- Unstable medical or psychiatric illness
- Clinically relevant cardiovascular or orthopaedic disease
- Severe polyneuropathy
- Cognitive impairment
- Smoking > 10 cigarettes/day
- Caffeine > 6 cups of coffee/day
- Alcohol > 50 g (two glasses)/day

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT03245216
Germany | |
Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Institute of Sport Science and Sport, Gebbertstr. 123b | |
Erlangen, Germany, 91058 |
Principal Investigator: | Simon Steib, Dr. | Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Institute of Sport Science and Sport |
Publications automatically indexed to this study by ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT Number):
Responsible Party: | Simon Steib, PhD, Dr., University of Erlangen-Nürnberg |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT03245216 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
DSN-032017 |
First Posted: | August 10, 2017 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | October 24, 2018 |
Last Verified: | October 2018 |
Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement: | |
Plan to Share IPD: | Undecided |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product: | No |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product: | No |
Parkinson's Disease motor learning aerobic exercise cardiovascular exercise |
balance postural instability motor skill |
Parkinson Disease Parkinsonian Disorders Basal Ganglia Diseases Brain Diseases Central Nervous System Diseases |
Nervous System Diseases Movement Disorders Synucleinopathies Neurodegenerative Diseases |