Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease. The cardinal symptoms of PD are tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia and postural instability. Gait disturbance is also one of the key features of PD. At present, the mainstream treatment of PD is the dopaminergic supplement. However, the response to the medical treatment varies between symptoms. Rigidity and bradykinesia respond to the medical treatment the best, and tremor respond partially. Gait disorders do not usually respond to the dopaminergic medication. Freezing of gait (FOG) is one of the most notorious and devastating presentation of gait disorders in PD. Currently, there is no available treatment for FOG, even the invasive deep brain stimulation does not work on it. Repetitive transcortical magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a novel non-invasive intervention. Through the magnetic stimulation, brain neurons could be activated by the electrical current. The application of rTMS had been approved by US FDA for the treatment of depression. The possible effect of rTMS may result from the stimulation-related neuronal plasticity. Regarding PD, rTMS also had been found to had some effect on different motor symptoms, mainly on the bradykinesia and rigidity but not gait. The present study would like to test the accumulative effect of rTMS on gait disorders of PD, especially the phenomenon of FOG. All the study subjects will receive rTMS under intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) mode at supplementary motor area (SMA). Gait analysis and other motor performance will be assessed before and after the intervention.
Age range
45 Years – 80 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
Change of duration on time up an go (TUG) test at 1 months later after theta burst stimulation
Timeframe: Baseline and 1 months later after theta burst stimulation
Change of score on freezing of gait questionnaire (FOG-Q) at 1 months later after theta burst stimulation
Timeframe: Baseline and 1 months later after theta burst stimulation