ArticleBMC complementary medicine and therapies2026
The efficacy and safety of high-frequency SMA-rTMS on freezing of gait in patients with Parkinson's disease: a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.
Article in BMC complementary medicine and therapies, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
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Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for freezing of gait in Parkinson's disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Clinical parkinsonism & related disorders · 2026Review
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5 authors.
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Abstract
backgroundFreezing of gait (FOG) is a common symptom of Parkinson's disease (PD) that impairs gait and quality of life. Current pharmacological and surgical treatment strategies cannot eliminate FOG. The supplementary motor area (SMA) is an important part of the motor network that contributing to generate anticipatory postural adjustments (APA) and becomes impaired in FOG. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), a non-invasive brain stimulation technique, can regulate the SMA and its connections with other brain regions. It may serve as a valuable adjunctive therapeutic approach in alleviating FOG in PD. The aim of this trial is to investigate efficacy and safety of high-frequency SMA-rTMS on FOG in PD patients and reveal possible neural mechanism of this intervention via task-based functional magnetic resonance imaging (tb-fMRI).
methodsWe will conduct a double-blind, randomized sham-controlled clinical trial. Up to 52 PD patients with FOG will be recruited from the department of neurology or outpatient departments, and randomized to sham or active rTMS group in 1:1 ratio. 12 sessions with 10 Hz stimulation over the SMA are delivered 3 times a week for 4 weeks. The primary outcome is the change of New Freezing of Gait Questionnaire (NFOGQ) scores from baseline to post-stimulation. Secondary outcomes include the clinical scales of PD motor and non-motor symptoms, quality of PD's life scale and Clinical Global Impression Scale (CGI). Besides, objective gait parameters obtained with wearable device and fMRI are also collected as secondary outcomes. All outcomes will be assessed at baseline, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks in the "off" state. DISCUSSION: This study will aid us to explore the short and long-term effects of 10 Hz rTMS over SMA on FOG in patients with PD and its safety. Combining task imagery paradigm and fMRI, the study will reveal underlying therapeutic mechanism of rTMS, which may provide evidence for future developments of therapeutic approaches.
trial registrationThis trial has been registered in China Clinical Trials Registry (registration number: ChiCTR2100049370). (Registered on August 1, 2021).
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