An interventional study of Capacitive Radiofrequency Therapy and Resistive Radiofrequency Therapy in Parkinson Disease (PD), sponsored by Universidad San Jorge. Recruiting at 1 site in Spain. Open to participants aged 55 Years to 90 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-09-25.
Sponsored by Universidad San Jorge · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
This study will investigate the immediate and short-term effects of capacitive-resistive radiofrequency therapy (TECAR) applied to the lower limbs in people with Parkinson's disease. The main aim is to determine which of four different TECAR application protocols produces the greatest improvement in muscle stiffness and walking function.
Twenty participants with Parkinson's disease will receive four different TECAR protocols in four separate sessions. The protocols will include capacitive treatment, resistive treatment, and two combinations of capacitive and resistive treatment. Each participant will receive all four protocols, and the order in which they are applied will be randomized. Sessions will be separated by a 7-day washout period.
Muscle stiffness will be measured using the MyotonPRO device. Walking and functional mobility will also be assessed using the Timed Up and Go test and the 10-Metre Walk Test. Joint range of motion and lower-limb musculoskeletal pain will also be evaluated. Measurements will be performed immediately before treatment, immediately after treatment, and 48 hours after each session.
The study will also record any discomfort or adverse events associated with TECAR therapy to evaluate the safety and tolerability of the different treatment protocols.
This is an experimental, randomized-sequence, within-subject crossover study designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and acute effects of capacitive-resistive radiofrequency therapy (TECAR) applied to the lower limbs of people with Parkinson's disease.
Each participant will receive four TECAR treatment protocols in separate sessions: (1) capacitive mode for 15 minutes per leg; (2) resistive mode for 15 minutes per leg; (3) a mixed capacitive-resistive protocol consisting of 10 minutes of capacitive treatment followed by 5 minutes of resistive treatment per leg; and (4) a mixed resistive-capacitive protocol consisting of 10 minutes of resistive treatment followed by 5 minutes of capacitive treatment per leg. Treatment intensity will be individually adjusted to produce a clear but comfortable thermal effect.
The order of the four interventions will be randomized individually for each participant to minimize potential period, learning, and carryover effects. A washout period of at least 7 days will separate treatment sessions. Participants will continue their usual antiparkinsonian medication and usual medical care throughout the study. Assessments will be performed during the pharmacological "ON" state, approximately 60-90 minutes after the participant's usual dopaminergic medication.
The primary outcome will be lower-limb muscle stiffness measured objectively using MyotonPRO myotonometry. Measurements will be obtained from standardized anatomical sites, including the medial gastrocnemius, tibialis anterior, rectus femoris, and biceps femoris muscles.
Secondary outcomes will include functional mobility assessed with the Timed Up and Go test, walking speed assessed with the 10-Metre Walk Test, range of motion of the ankle, knee, and hip measured by goniometry, and lower-limb musculoskeletal pain assessed using a Numeric Rating Scale.
Outcomes will be assessed immediately before each intervention, immediately after each intervention, and 48 hours after each treatment session. Adverse events and treatment-related discomfort will also be recorded during each intervention and at the 48-hour assessment to evaluate the safety and tolerability of the different TECAR protocols.
The study plans to recruit 20 participants with idiopathic Parkinson's disease, Hoehn and Yahr stages II-III, who have functional walking ability and clinically relevant lower-limb rigidity.
4,573 studies on the registry are indexed under Parkinson Disease; 1,086 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 20 is below the median of 40 across 3,353 interventional studies indexed under Parkinson Disease.
Browse Parkinson Disease studies →Universidad San Jorge is the lead sponsor of 33 studies on the registry; 4 are open to participants now.
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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.
Hoehn and Yahr stage II or III. Functional walking ability. lower-limb rigidity in at least one leg, defined as a score ≥2 on item 3.3d (right lower limb) or 3.3e (left lower limb) of Part III of the Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS).
Stable antiparkinsonian pharmacological treatment during the previous 4 weeks, with no planned changes during the intervention period.
Ability to understand and follow simple instructions, defined as a score >24 on the validated Spanish version of the (MMSE-MEC).
Provision of written .
Exclusion Criteria:
Other neurological or musculoskeletal conditions that could interfere with the assessment of lower-limb rigidity or gait.
Skin lesions, open wounds, or infection in the area where radiofrequency therapy will be applied.
Presence of a pacemaker, defibrillator, other implanted electronic device, or another to TECAR therapy, such as altered thermal sensitivity.
Lower-limb surgery within the previous 6 months.
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Judged by the study doctor to matter for your health or for the study. It is a doctor’s decision, so ask the study team if you are unsure whether something counts.
Short tests of memory and thinking, each scored out of 30. Lower scores suggest more difficulty; criteria give a range, either to include people with memory problems or to leave them out.
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
A reason a treatment, test or procedure should not be given to a particular person, such as an allergy, another illness or a medicine they take.
Clinically significant
Judged by the study doctor to matter for your health or for the study. It is a doctor’s decision, so ask the study team if you are unsure whether something counts.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
MMSE and MoCA
Short tests of memory and thinking, each scored out of 30. Lower scores suggest more difficulty; criteria give a range, either to include people with memory problems or to leave them out.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Informed consent
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Contraindication
A reason a treatment, test or procedure should not be given to a particular person, such as an allergy, another illness or a medicine they take.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Participants will receive capacitive-resistive radiofrequency therapy (TECAR) applied in capacitive mode to the lower limbs for 15 minutes per leg. Treatment will target the posterior lower leg, quadriceps, and hamstring muscle regions. Treatment intensity will be individually adjusted to a medium-high level producing a clear but comfortable thermal effect, approximately 3-4 out of 5 on the device intensity scale.
Other: Capacitive Radiofrequency Therapy
Participants will receive capacitive-resistive radiofrequency therapy (TECAR) applied in resistive mode to the lower limbs for 15 minutes per leg. Treatment will target the posterior lower leg, quadriceps, and hamstring muscle regions. Treatment intensity will be individually adjusted to a medium-high level producing a clear but comfortable thermal effect, approximately 3-4 out of 5 on the device intensity scale.
Other: Resistive Radiofrequency Therapy
Participants will receive capacitive-resistive radiofrequency therapy (TECAR) applied to the lower limbs using a mixed protocol consisting of 10 minutes of capacitive treatment followed by 5 minutes of resistive treatment per leg. Treatment will target the posterior lower leg, quadriceps, and hamstring muscle regions. Treatment intensity will be individually adjusted to a medium-high level producing a clear but comfortable thermal effect, approximately 3-4 out of 5 on the device intensity scale.
Other: Capacitive-Resistive Radiofrequency Therapy
Participants will receive capacitive-resistive radiofrequency therapy (TECAR) applied to the lower limbs using a mixed protocol consisting of 10 minutes of resistive treatment followed by 5 minutes of capacitive treatment per leg. Treatment will target the posterior lower leg, quadriceps, and hamstring muscle regions. Treatment intensity will be individually adjusted to a medium-high level producing a clear but comfortable thermal effect, approximately 3-4 out of 5 on the device intensity scale
Other: Resistive-Capacitive Radiofrequency Therapy
Capacitive-resistive radiofrequency therapy (TECAR) will be applied in capacitive mode to the lower limbs for 15 minutes per leg. Treatment will target the posterior lower leg, quadriceps, and hamstring muscle regions. Intensity will be individually adjusted to a medium-high level producing a clear but comfortable thermal effect, approximately 3-4 out of 5 on the device intensity scale.
Capacitive-resistive radiofrequency therapy (TECAR) will be applied in resistive mode to the lower limbs for 15 minutes per leg. Treatment will target the posterior lower leg, quadriceps, and hamstring muscle regions. Intensity will be individually adjusted to a medium-high level producing a clear but comfortable thermal effect, approximately 3-4 out of 5 on the device intensity scale.
Capacitive-resistive radiofrequency therapy (TECAR) will be applied to the lower limbs using a mixed protocol consisting of 10 minutes of capacitive treatment followed by 5 minutes of resistive treatment per leg. Treatment will target the posterior lower leg, quadriceps, and hamstring muscle regions. Intensity will be individually adjusted to a medium-high level producing a clear but comfortable thermal effect, approximately 3-4 out of 5 on the device intensity scale.
Capacitive-resistive radiofrequency therapy (TECAR) will be applied to the lower limbs using a mixed protocol consisting of 10 minutes of resistive treatment followed by 5 minutes of capacitive treatment per leg. Treatment will target the posterior lower leg, quadriceps, and hamstring muscle regions. Intensity will be individually adjusted to a medium-high level producing a clear but comfortable thermal effect, approximately 3-4 out of 5 on the device intensity scale.
Change in Lower-Limb Muscle Stiffness
Lower-limb muscle stiffness will be assessed using the MyotonPRO device and expressed in N/m. Three consecutive measurements will be performed at standardized anatomical sites on the medial gastrocnemius, tibialis anterior, rectus femoris, and biceps femoris muscles, and the mean value will be used for analysis.
Time frame: Immediately before, immediately after, and 48 hours after each intervention session
Change in Functional Mobility Assessed With the Timed Up and Go Test
Functional mobility will be assessed using the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test. The time required to stand up from a chair, walk 3 meters, turn around, walk back, and sit down will be recorded in seconds. Three attempts will be performed, and the best result will be used for analysis.
Time frame: Immediately before, immediately after, and 48 hours after each intervention session
Change in Gait Speed Assessed With the 10-Metre Walk Test
Gait speed will be assessed using the 10-Metre Walk Test (10MWT) at a comfortable walking speed. Walking speed will be expressed in meters per second (m/s). Three attempts will be performed, and the best result will be used for analysis.
Time frame: Immediately before, immediately after, and 48 hours after each intervention session
Change in Lower-Limb Joint Range of Motion
Range of motion of the ankle, knee, and hip will be assessed using a universal goniometer and expressed in degrees. Two measurements will be performed for each assessment, and the mean value will be used for analysis.
Time frame: Immediately before, immediately after, and 48 hours after each intervention session
Change in Lower-Limb Musculoskeletal Pain
Lower-limb musculoskeletal pain will be assessed using an 11-point Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst imaginable pain). Pain will be evaluated in relation to lower-limb movement and functional assessment.
Time frame: Immediately before, immediately after, and 48 hours after each intervention session
Incidence of Treatment-Related Adverse Events
Safety and tolerability will be assessed by recording adverse events and treatment-related discomfort, including increased pain, excessive or intolerable heat, persistent erythema, skin burns or blisters, dizziness, malaise, increased fatigue, gait instability, or any other symptoms occurring during or following the intervention.
Time frame: During each intervention session and up to 48 hours after each intervention
Plan to share: No — Individual participant data will not be publicly shared because the approved study protocol does not include a specific plan for sharing individual-level data with external researchers. Study results will be reported in aggregated form to protect participant confidentiality and privacy.
No publications or documents are linked to this record.
Start is estimated for Sep 2026; primary completion for Dec 2026, 2 months later.
Of 1,291 non-industry interventional studies with no phase under Parkinson Disease, half reached primary completion within 24 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 11 and three quarters within 44. This study's planned 2 months is below that.
Counting every sponsor, half of 1,367 studies reached it within 25 months; a quarter within 11 and three quarters within 44.
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
From the registry record's own update history. This site started tracking changes on Sep 25, 2026; for anything earlier, see the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
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