Visual Perturbation Training to Reduce Fall Risk in People With Parkinson's Disease

Falls during walking are common in people with Parkinson's Disease (PD). Fall risk can be attributed in part to the loss of automaticity in walking and an increased reliance on sensory cues, such as the input from the balance organ. In this project the investigators want to assess the effectiveness of rehabilitation training aiming to improve this vestibular input. The effects of a visual perturbation training in a virtual reality environment will be compared to conventional treadmill training.

Inclusion Criteria:Idiopathic Parkinson's diseaseAged between 50-65 yearsBilateral symptomsAble to walk unassisted for 20 minutes (Hoehn & Yahr stage II-III)Stable medication dosage (if any)No cognitive disablityExclusion Criteria:Non-idiopathic Parkinson's diseaseStrong variation in expressed symptomsInability to walk unassisted for 20 minutesUnderwent a medical procedure to treat Parkinson symptoms (e.g. duodopa pump, deep brain stimulator)Cognitive disability (score < 21 on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment)Illness other than Parkinson's disease (flu, Covid-19) or disabilities that may affect gait or equilibriumClogged ear(s)Regular fainting episodesWeight over 120 kgParticipation in other clinical studies