RecruitingNCT07551661Updated Apr 27, 2026

Effects of an Independent Walking Program With Walking Poles in People With Parkinson Disease

An interventional study of Independent walking program using walking poles and Independent walking program without walking poles in PARKINSON DISEASE (Disorder), sponsored by East Tennessee State University. Recruiting at 1 site in United States. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-04-27.

Sponsored by East Tennessee State University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase: Not applicable
Study type: Interventional
Enrollment: 40
Allocation: Randomized
Sex: All

Study summary

Study Purpose: The purpose of the study is to compare changes in walking in people with Parkinson disease after an 8-week independent walking program with or without using walking poles.

Major parts of the Study:

Before the walking program: Measurements will be taken of you while you are walking. You will be given tests and questionnaires about your movement and thinking. You will be trained on how to use walking poles.

Independent walking program: You will be asked to walk at least 3 times each week for 8 weeks and keep a log of your walking. If you are in the walking pole group, you will walk with the poles. After the walking program: Your walking, movement, and thinking measurements will be collected as before the walking program.

Follow-up: The same measures of walking, movement, and thinking will be taken 3-months after ending the walking program.

Read the detailed description

Enrolled participants will complete the following Initial assessment

Participant demographics will be collected and include age, weight, height, foot length, gender, years since diagnosis, daily Parkinson medication, deep brain stimulation status, and the following questions: "How many times have you fallen in the past 3 and 6 months?", "Are you comfortable using walking/hiking poles?" and "How many days per week do you participate in intentional exercise?"
The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) version 8.1 will be administered. If participant scores >18 (the cutoff score for mild cognitive impairment (MCI), they will continue in the study.
The MDS-UPDRS Part III and Trail Making Test Part A and B will be administered.
Outcome measures performed by walking on the GAITRite™ Walkway with Movella Xsens™ Bluetooth motion sensors (worn on upper back, lower back, arms, and legs) will include: 6-minute walk test (6 MWT), Timed-up-and go (TUG), TUG with a cognitive task, and the 10-meter walk test (10 MWT), and the Backward Walk Test. Heart rate will be collected with a Polar heart rate monitor chest strap during the 6-minute walk test.
Self-reported outcome measure will include: Activities Specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABC Scale), Movement Disorder Society - Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) Patient Questionnaire (Part IB and II), the Revised Oswestry Disability Index, and the Freezing of Gait Questionnaire.
Participants will be trained on the use of walking poles, and then practice with the poles. The technique taught will be with the poles are held in front of the body, perpendicular to the ground, and swung in a reciprocal pattern. This initial training will last no more than 30 minutes and will include 10 minutes of independent pole practice.

Participants will return within a 14-day window for group or individual training walking with poles.

Outcome measures performed on the GAITRite™ Walkway prior to training will include: 10 MWT with and without poles.
Participant will train until they can demonstrate independent starting, >%50 correct technique and 100% self-correction within 3 missteps without cuing during 2 consecutive passes of 10 meters with a U-turn between passes.
Participants will then perform 10 minutes of independent poling practice.
Outcome measures performed on the GAITRite™ Walkway after training will include: 10 MWT with and without poles.
After training and the gait assessment data are collected, the study group allocation will be revealed to each participant by a study member not involved in the assessment data collection.
Participants randomized into the walking pole group will be provided with the poles for home use and asked to use the poles during all intentional walking for exercise during the study period. Pole use will not be restricted outside of the walking program.

The participants will participate in an independent walking program period for 8-weeks.

All participants (intervention and control) will be asked to participate in at least 3 days of intentional walking exercise for the subsequent 8 weeks. Each participant will be given a log (see attached) to record their walking frequency and duration, rating of perceived exertion (RPE), notes, and any adverse events. Participants will be educated on the RPE scale and provided with a laminated RPE scale (see attached). All participants will be instructed to contact a designated study member via phone or email as soon as possible if an adverse event occurs. Events are defined as "Illness, injury, or falls" and contact information is provided on each page of the log.
Participants will be contacted by a study member (see Check-in Script) by email (preferred) or phone (if participant does not use email or does not respond to email within 48 hours) at the end of weeks 1, 2, 4 and 6.

At conclusion of the 8-week walking program participants will return for reassessment.

Walking logs will be collected.
The MoCA version 8.2, MDS-UPDRS Part III and Trail Making Test Part A and B will be administered.
Outcome measures performed by walking on the GAITRite™ Walkway with Movella Xsens™ Bluetooth motion sensors (worn on upper back, lower back, arms, and legs) will include: 6-minute walk test, Timed-up-and go (TUG), TUG with a cognitive task, and the 10-meter walk test with and without poles, and the Backward Walk Test. Heart rate will be collected with a Polar heart rate monitor chest strap during the 6-minute walk test.
Self-reported outcome measure will include: Activities Specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABC Scale) and Movement Disorder Society - Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) Patient Questionnaire (Part IB and II), the Revised Oswestry Disability Index, and the Freezing of Gait Questionnaire
Participants in the control group will be provided a pair of walking poles for personal use.

Three-months following walking-program conclusion

Self-reported outcome measure will include: Activities Specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABC Scale) and Movement Disorder Society - Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) Patient Questionnaire (Part IB and II), the Revised Oswestry Disability Index, and the Freezing of Gait Questionnaire
The MoCA version 8.3, MDS-UPDRS Part III and Trail Making Test Part A and B will be administered.
Outcome measures performed by walking on the GAITRite™ Walkway with Movella Xsens™ Bluetooth motion sensors (worn on upper back, lower back, arms, and legs) will include: 6-minute walk test, Timed-up-and go (TUG), TUG with a cognitive task, and the 10-meter walk test with and without poles, and the Backward Walk Test. Heart rate will be collected with a Polar heart rate monitor chest strap during the 6-minute walk test.
Participants will answer questions:
"How many times have you fallen in the past 3 months?"
"How often in the past month do you intentionally walk for exercise?"
"What percentage in the past month do you use poles when intentionally walking for exercise?"
"Please share any thoughts you would like the study team to know about your experience using walking poles."

Conditions studied

PARKINSON DISEASE (Disorder)

Browse trials for

Keywords

walking
physical activity
gait
Nordic walking
arm swing
walking poles

In context

Parkinson Disease

4,573 studies on the registry are indexed under Parkinson Disease; 1,086 are open to participants now.

This study's planned enrollment of 40 is close to the median of 40 across 3,353 interventional studies indexed under Parkinson Disease.

Browse Parkinson Disease studies →

Lead sponsor

East Tennessee State University is the lead sponsor of 21 studies on the registry; 2 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

Who can participate

Ages eligible: Child (0–17), Adult (18–64), Older adult (65+)
Sexes eligible: All
Accepts healthy volunteers: No

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

English-speaking, diagnosis of Parkinson disease, ability to walk safely and independently with or without a cane, and medically cleared to participate in an independent walking program. Participants must be physically present in the USA at the time of assessment.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

diagnosis of any neurological disease other than PD (including but not limited to stroke, dementia, and multiple sclerosis; mild cognitive impairment is not excluded), regular (>30%) use of walking poles during walking for exercise for the prior 6 months, weight of more than 320 pounds or height more than 6'4", unable to participate in walking for more than 7 consecutive days during the study period (ie, traveling, scheduled surgery), anticipated change in Parkinson-specific medication (including additions, removals, or changes in dosage) during the intervention period, a change in deep brain stimulation (DBS) parameters during the intervention.

Study design

Phase: Not applicable
Primary purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel assignment
Masking: Double (Investigator, Outcomes assessor)
Enrollment: 40 participants (estimated)

Study arms

Experimental
Walking Poles
Participants who will be using walking poles during the independent walking program
Behavioral: Independent walking program using walking poles
Active comparator
No Walking Poles
Participants who will not be using walking poles during the independent walking program
Behavioral: Independent walking program without walking poles

Interventions

BehavioralIndependent walking program using walking poles
Participants will independently walk at least 3 times a week for 8 weeks using walking poles
BehavioralIndependent walking program without walking poles
Participants will independently walk at least 3 times a week for 8 weeks without walking poles

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

Six Minute Walk Test
Measurement of distance walked in 6 minutes, a reflection of functional capacity.
Time frame: Prior to initiation of 8 week walking program, immediately upon completion, and 3 months after completion.

Secondary outcomes

Gait Characteristic - gait speed
Measure with a timed 10-meter walk test.
Time frame: Prior to initiation of 8 week walking program, immediately upon completion, and 3-months after completion.
Backward Walk Test
Timed 5-meter backward walking to gather backward gait speed.
Time frame: Prior to initiation of 8 week walking program, immediately upon completion, and 3 months after completion.
Timed Up and Go
The Timed Up and Go (TUG) is a standardized measure of functional mobility, balance, and fall risk in adults. It captures how efficiently a person can transition between sitting, standing, walking, turning, and sitting again.
Time frame: Prior to initiation of 8 week walking program, immediately upon completion, and 3 months after completion.
Cognitive Timed Up and Go
The Cognitive Timed Up and Go (TUG) is a standardized measure of functional mobility, balance, and fall risk in adults. It captures how efficiently a person can transition between sitting, standing, walking, turning, and sitting again while performing a cognitive task of counting backward by 3.
Time frame: Prior to initiation of 8 week walking program, immediately upon completion, and 3-months after completion.
Montreal Cognitive Assessment
The MoCA is a brief cognitive screening tool designed to detect mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and early cognitive decline.
Time frame: Prior to initiation of 8 week walking program, immediately upon completion, and 3 months after completion.
The MDS-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS)
The MDS-UPDRS is a clinical rating scale used to evaluate motor and non-motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease. We will be completing parts 1B, 2, and 3, which focus on patient-reported daily experiences and clinician-rated motor performance.
Time frame: Prior to initiation of 8 week walking program, immediately upon completion, and 3 months after completion.
Activity-specific Balance Confidence Scale
Self-administered questionnaire that reflects the participant's confidence in their ability to maintain their balance while performing the 16 listed tasks. Score ranges from 0-100% and reflects overall % confidence. Lower scores indicate less confidence and thus worse outcome
Time frame: Prior to initiation of 8 week walking program, immediately upon completion, and 3 months after completion.
Arm swing
Arm swing data collected via inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensors on arms to measure angle and excursion; collected concurrently with 6MWT gait data.
Time frame: Prior to initiation of 8 week walking program, immediately upon completion, and 3 months after completion.
Descriptive Gait Characteristics
Gait characteristics collected on gait walkway and via inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensors during gait tests, to include step length, step symmetry, and gait variability.
Time frame: Prior to initiation of 8 week walking program, immediately upon completion, and 3 months after completion.
Freezing of Gait Questionnaire
A patient-reported measure that quantifies the severity, frequency, and functional impact of freezing of gait in people with Parkinson disease.
Time frame: Prior to initiation of 8 week walking program, immediately upon completion, and 3-months after the completion.
Revised Oswestry Disability Index
A self-report questionnaire that measures how low back pain affects functional ability in everyday life.
Time frame: Prior to initiation of 8 week walking program, immediately upon completion, and 3-months after the completion.

Study locations

1 of 1 sites recruiting

East Tennessee State University
Johnson City, Tennessee 37614, United States
3 other open studies at this site →
Recruiting
- Tiffany Salido, PT, DPT, PhD · Contact · salido@etsu.edu · 423-439-8727
- · Contactsalido@etsu.edu · 8284235390
- Tiffany Salido, PT, DPT, PhD · Principal investigator
Recruiting

References and documents

Publications

Szefler-Derela J, Arkuszewski M, Knapik A, Wasiuk-Zowada D, Gorzkowska A, Krzystanek E. Effectiveness of 6-Week Nordic Walking Training on Functional Performance, Gait Quality, and Quality of Life in Parkinson's Disease. Medicina (Kaunas). 2020 Jul 17;56(7):356. doi: 10.3390/medicina56070356. PubMed 32708938 ↗
Salse-Batan J, Sanchez-Lastra MA, Suarez-Iglesias D, Varela S, Ayan C. Effects of Nordic walking in people with Parkinson's disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Health Soc Care Community. 2022 Sep;30(5):e1505-e1520. doi: 10.1111/hsc.13842. Epub 2022 May 20. PubMed 35593147 ↗
Reuter I, Mehnert S, Leone P, Kaps M, Oechsner M, Engelhardt M. Effects of a flexibility and relaxation programme, walking, and nordic walking on Parkinson's disease. J Aging Res. 2011;2011:232473. doi: 10.4061/2011/232473. Epub 2011 Mar 30. PubMed 21603199 ↗
Cugusi L, Manca A, Dragone D, Deriu F, Solla P, Secci C, Monticone M, Mercuro G. Nordic Walking for the Management of People With Parkinson Disease: A Systematic Review. PM R. 2017 Nov;9(11):1157-1166. doi: 10.1016/j.pmrj.2017.06.021. Epub 2017 Jul 8. PubMed 28694221 ↗
Mantri S, Fullard ME, Duda JE, Morley JF. Physical Activity in Early Parkinson Disease. J Parkinsons Dis. 2018;8(1):107-111. doi: 10.3233/JPD-171218. PubMed 29480222 ↗
Domingues VL, Pompeu JE, de Freitas TB, Polese J, Torriani-Pasin C. Physical activity level is associated with gait performance and five times sit-to-stand in Parkinson's disease individuals. Acta Neurol Belg. 2022 Feb;122(1):191-196. doi: 10.1007/s13760-021-01824-w. Epub 2021 Oct 23. PubMed 34689319 ↗

Individual participant data

Plan to share: Yes — All IPD data will be shared.

Supporting information: Study protocol, Analytic code

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026

No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Apr 27, 2026, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Registry details

Key details

Study ID: NCT07551661
Lead sponsor: East Tennessee State University
Responsible party: Sponsor
First posted: Apr 27, 2026
Start date: Apr 2026 (estimated)
Primary completion: Oct 2026 (estimated)
Completion: Jan 2027 (estimated)
Last update: Apr 27, 2026

Study contacts

Tiffany Salido, PT, DPT, PhD

Contact

salido@etsu.edu

423-439-8727

Oversight

Data monitoring committee: No
FDA-regulated drug: No
FDA-regulated device: No

View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Interested in this study?

Eligibility is decided by the study team. Share this record with your doctor or contact the team directly.

Contact study team

Follow this study

Get an email when the registry record changes — status, dates, results — or when someone posts here.

Discussion

Questions and observations about this study, from anyone following it. Not medical advice, and not a channel to the study team — their contact details are on the registry record.

Sign in to join the discussion. Reading takes no account; posting does. You choose a display name, and a pseudonym is the default.

Nothing here yet. If you are running this trial, taking part in it, or weighing whether to, this is the place to say so.

Other studies in this condition

Parkinson Disease →

Other studies from this sponsor

East Tennessee State University

Start the discussion