title: A Pilot Clinical Trial to Objectively Assess the Efficacy of Electroacupuncture on Gait in Patients with Parkinson's Disease Using Body Worn Sensors.
abstract: Gait disorder, a key contributor to fall and poor quality of life, represents a major therapeutic challenge in Parkinson's disease (PD). The efficacy of acupuncture for PD remains unclear, largely due to methodological flaws and lack of studies using objective outcome measures.
  
  
  
  To objectively assess the efficacy of electroacupuncture (EA) for gait disorders using body-worn sensor technology in patients with PD.
  
  
  
  In this randomized pilot study, both the patients and assessors were masked. Fifteen PD patients were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 10) or to a control group (n = 5). Outcomes were assessed at baseline and after completion of three weekly EA treatments. Measurements included gait analysis during single-task habitual walking (STHW), dual-task habitual walking (DTHW), single-task fast walking (STFW), dual-task fast walking (DTFW). In addition, Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), SF-12 health survey, short Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I), and visual analog scale (VAS) for pain were utilized.
  
  
  
  All gait parameters were improved in the experimental group in response to EA treatment. After adjustment by age and BMI, the improvement achieved statistical significant level for gait speed under STHW, STFW, and DTFW (9%-19%, p<0.05) as well as stride length during DTFW (9%, p = 0.037) and midswing speed during STFW (6%, p = 0.033). No significant changes were observed in the control group (p>0.110). The highest correlation between gait parameters and UPRDS scores at baseline was observed between gait speed during STFW and UPDRS II (r = -0.888, p = 0.004). The change in this gait parameter in response to active intervention was positively correlated with baseline UPDRS (r = 0.595, p = 0.057). Finally, comparison of responses to treatment between groups showed significant improvement, prominently in gait speed (effect size 0.32-1.16, p = 0.001).
  
  
  
  This study provides the objective proof of concept for potential benefits of non-pharmaceutical based EA therapy on enhancing gait in patients with PD.
  
  
  
  ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02556164.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lei
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Consortium on Advanced Motion Performance (iCAMP) and Southern Arizona Limb Salvage Alliance (SALSA), Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America.
authors.forename: Nima
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Toosizadeh
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Consortium on Advanced Motion Performance (iCAMP) and Southern Arizona Limb Salvage Alliance (SALSA), Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America.|Arizona Center on Aging, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schwenk
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America.
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sherman
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America.
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Karp
authors.affiliation: Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America.
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sternberg
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Consortium on Advanced Motion Performance (iCAMP) and Southern Arizona Limb Salvage Alliance (SALSA), Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America.|Arizona Center on Aging, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America.|Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America.
authors.forename: Bijan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Najafi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015671:Electroacupuncture / Q000379:methods*; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018670:Monitoring, Ambulatory / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000295:instrumentation*; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology