Overview
Gait initiation (GI) difficulty is a common problem in individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD), often linked to impaired anticipatory postural adjustments (APA). Currently, there are no targeted rehabilitation programs designed specifically for GI-related APA in PD patients. Research has shown that while motor learning deficits are common in PD, explicit learning is better preserved than implicit learning. Therefore, a GI-related APA training system using an explicit learning model could be particularly effective for this population.
During motor learning, long-term potentiation (LTP) increases the excitability of the primary motor cortex. Paired associative stimulation (PAS) has been demonstrated to induce LTP-like changes in the motor cortex, making it a potential priming method to enhance motor learning. However, the priming effect of PAS targeted at leg muscles and the motor cortex on motor learning related to GI-APA has not been previously studied.
The objectives of this study are:
- To investigate the effects of explicit and implicit training on GI-related APA.
- To evaluate the priming effect of PAS on GI-related APA training and the associated plasticity changes in the motor cortex.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
- Clinical diagnosis of Parkinson disease.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Musculoskeletal injuries on legs
- Osteoporosis.
- Any peripheral or central nervous system injury or disease patients.