Magnetic pulses to the spine may help Parkinson's patients walk better

NCT ID NCT05008289

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This completed phase 2 trial tested whether a non-invasive magnetic coil placed on the upper back could improve walking in 42 Parkinson's patients who already have deep brain stimulation but still have gait problems. Participants received either active or placebo stimulation in a double-blind design. The main goal was to see if gait speed changed right after stimulation, with secondary measures including freezing episodes and quality of life.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance

magnetic transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (device)

What this could lead to

If it works, this could offer a non-invasive way to improve walking problems in Parkinson's patients who already have deep brain stimulation but still struggle with gait.

What could go wrong

This is a small, early-phase trial (42 participants) testing only short-term effects. The results may not apply to all Parkinson's patients, and the benefit might be modest or not last.

Disclaimer Read more

This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Parkinson disease

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • University of Sao Paulo

    São Paulo, São Paulo, 01246-000, Brazil