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A Manualized Recreational Therapy Balance Program for Older Adults With Parkinson's and Movement Disorders

Enhancing Stability and Connection: A Manualized Recreational Therapy Balance Program for Older Adults With Parkinson's and Movement Disorders in Oklahoma Small Cities

Who can join

As published by the study on ClinicalTrials.gov. "Not stated" means the study hasn't said — ask the study team.

Age
50 Years and older
Sex
All sexes
Healthy volunteers
Not accepted
Compensation
Not stated

Other requirements are listed under Eligibility below. Only the study team can confirm whether you can join.

What to expect

No one can promise a trial will help you personally — that is what the research is trying to find out.

What participation involves

  • Time periods mentioned: 24 weeks, 6 months, 3 months

Only what the study's summary and detailed description on ClinicalTrials.gov say. Time periods may describe the whole study or a part of it — ask the study team what applies to you.

Show the study's own words
  • "One group will attend the balance program continuously for 24 weeks."
  • "Cohort 1 will receive the continuous in-person intervention for six months (24 weeks)."
  • "Cohort 2 will receive the intervention for three months (12 weeks), followed by a three-month observation period intended to quantify the decay of training effects."
Compensation
Not stated
  • Study-related exams and procedures are typically provided at no cost. This is how many trials work in general — confirm the details for this study with the study team.
  • Participants are monitored closely by the research team throughout the study.
  • Some participants may receive access to an investigational treatment, which is still being studied.
  • Your participation helps researchers learn whether this approach could help future patients.

About this study

In plain language

This study tests a weekly balance activity program for older adults with Parkinson's disease or other movement disorders in small cities and rural areas of Oklahoma. It aims to learn how long people need the program to keep their gains and how quickly those gains fade after it ends.

This study evaluates a manualized recreational therapy balance program for older adults with Parkinson's disease and movement disorders who live in small cities and rural areas of Oklahoma, where access to movement disorder specialists is limited. Twenty-four older adults with Parkinson's disease and movement disorders will be randomly assigned to one of two groups of 12. One group will attend the balance program continuously for 24 weeks. The other group will attend the program for 12 weeks and will then be observed for 12 weeks without the program. All sessions are led by a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist and last about 50 minutes once a week. Participants will be assessed three times: before the program begins, at three months, and at six months. The assessments measure gait velocity and stride length, postural stability, fall-related confidence, anxiety and depression, and social connectedness. The purpose of the study is to learn how long a community balance program needs to continue for older adults to keep the gains they make, and how quickly those gains decline when the program ends.

Compensation is read from the study's own description and may be missing — always confirm with the study team.

Eligibility

Who can join

  • Have a diagnosis of Parkinson's disease or another disorder that affects movement.
  • Can take part in a 50-minute physical activity session once a week.
  • Can attend sessions in person at the study site.
  • Are willing and able to give informed consent, meaning you understand the study and agree to join.

Who can't join

  • Have a health condition that makes balance exercises unsafe.
  • Cannot attend weekly sessions in person.

Simplified for readability. The official criteria below are what the study team uses.

Official eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria: * Diagnosis of Parkinson's disease or another movement disorder * Able to tolerate a 50-minute physical activity session once per week * Able to attend in-person sessions at the study site * Willing and able to provide informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Medical condition that prevents safe participation in balance exercise * Unable to attend the weekly in-person sessions

Study sites (1)

OK