A wearable system for visual cueing gait rehabilitation in Parkinson's disease: a randomized non-inferiority trial.
Michelangelo Bartolo, Alberto Castelli, Marzia Calabrese and 7 others
PMID 38483335WHAT IT FOUND
Wearable knee-pad visual cues were not inferior to floor stripes for gait in Parkinson's.
Both groups improved similarly on the primary outcome. The device was rated easy and motivating by most patients, supporting its use when floor cues are impractical.
Key findings
01The wearable system was not inferior to traditional floor stripes for the primary outcome of step length increase.
02There was no significant difference between groups in the increase in step length from baseline to post-treatment.
03Most patients found the device easy to use and motivating, with the majority stating they could use it at home.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The sample size was small (52 patients), which limited statistical power and prevented subgroup analyses based on disease severity or dominant symptoms. The follow-up period was relatively short (three months), so long-term durability of the effect is unknown. Participants were relatively high-functioning (Hoehn & Yahr II-IV), so results may not generalize to those with advanced disease. The trial was open-label, meaning patients knew which treatment they received, which could influence subjective outcomes or effort.
Declared interests
The authors certify that there is no conflict of interest with any financial organization regarding the material discussed in the manuscript.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the non-inferiority result as superiority. The wearable device was shown to be no worse than floor stripes, but it did not produce a significantly larger improvement in step length than the traditional method.