Parkinson DiseaseNCT05917704
Classical Guitar for Parkinson's Disease
A study testing Guitar then physical therapy and Physical therapy then guitar in people with Parkinson Disease, run by University of Washington at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
The purpose of this study is to understand if training Parkinson's disease patients in classical guitar will improve motor function, mood, and quality of life. While medication has been found to be effective for many Parkinson's disease patients, many patients still have symptoms. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 50 to 90 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Parkinson Disease
- What is being tested?
- Guitar then physical therapy and Physical therapy then guitar
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 40 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 6 Jun 2023to 1 Feb 2024
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 50 to 90 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- 50-90 years old
- Diagnosis with Parkinson's disease by a Movement Disorder specialist
Who cannot join
- Professional musician or formal music training
- Inability to play a classical guitar physically
- Inability to follow instruction
- Receiving physical therapy at the time of the study
- Unable to attend all sessions of study
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Northwest Chapter of the American Parkinson Disease Association
Seattle, Washington, 98109
Christopher Adams, MS, MD, caadams1@uw.edu
Christopher Adams, MS, MD
About this study
Official title: CAPO: Classical Guitar to Alleviate Parkinson's Disease Symptom Onus
The purpose of this study is to understand if training Parkinson's disease patients in classical guitar will improve motor function, mood, and quality of life. While medication has been found to be effective for many Parkinson's disease patients, many patients still have symptoms. Previous studies have found that music and rhythm-based activities can help Parkinson's disease symptoms. A previous study looked at the effect of playing classical guitar on Parkinson's disease symptoms. They found positive changes in Parkinson's disease symptoms that lasted for 6 weeks after the study ended. Further, there were positive changes in depression, anxiety, and quality of life.
Read the detailed description
Subjects will be asked to take part in classical guitar lessons once a week for six weeks and physical therapy once a week for six weeks. There will be 40 people enrolled in the study. Twenty people will have classical guitar lessons first and physical therapy second. The other twenty people will have physical therapy first and classical guitar lessons second. The study will last a total of 12 weeks. Each session will last 1-2 hours. Sessions will be held at the Northwest Chapter headquarters of the American Parkinson's Disease Association.
Examples of the types of activities subjects will do during the physical therapy sessions include finger exercises, tasks with both hands, tasks while standing, and tasks while walking.
Examples of the types of activities you will do during the classical guitar lessons include playing chords and songs on the guitar.
Subjects will have physical exams and complete questionnaires at the beginning of the study, at six weeks, and at the end of the study.
If subjects have Apple watches, they will be asked to download an application called StrivePD on their watch and iPhone. StrivePD is an application that allows subjects to keep track of their Parkinson's disease symptoms or set medication reminders, for example. When used with an Apple watch, it can automatically record symptoms like tremors. During this study, the StrivePD application will only be used to collect data about what percentage of the day they have tremors and how much they sleep.
- Conditions
- Parkinson Disease
- Being tested
- Guitar then physical therapy, Physical therapy then guitar
- Keywords
- Parkinson's disease, music-based therapy
- Medical subject headings
- Parkinson Disease
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Guitar then physical therapyOther
See arm/group descriptions
Physical therapy then guitarOther
See arm/group descriptions
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Guitar then physical therapy | Active comparator | Subjects will learn classical guitar then have physical therapy sessions. Receives: Other: Guitar then physical therapy |
| Physical therapy then guitar | Active comparator | Subjects will have physical therapy sessions then learn classical guitar Receives: Other: Physical therapy then guitar |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in the motor subscore of the Movement Disorder Society Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Motor Subscale
Change in Parkinson's disease rating scale, range 0-32, higher score means more severe Parkinson's disease symptoms
Measured: Baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks
Secondary outcomes (6)
Change in Parkinson's disease Questionnaire-39
Change in scale for quality of life, range 0-100, higher means worse Parkinson's disease symptoms
Measured: Baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks
Change in percent of day with tremor
Change in percent of day with tremor from apple watch
Measured: Baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks
Change in Beck Depression Inventory-II
depression scale, range 0-63, higher score means worse depression
Measured: Baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks
Change in Apathy evaluation scale total score
Change in apathy scale, range 18-72, higher scores means worse apathy
Measured: Baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks
Change in American Parkinson's disease Association symptom tracker score
Change in Parkinson's disease symptom tracker, range 0-50, higher scores means worse symptoms
Measured: Baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks
Change in hours of sleep
Change in hours of sleep measured from apple watch data
Measured: Baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted26 Jun 2023
- Study start6 Jun 2023
- Primary completion12 Dec 2023 (estimated)
- Study completion1 Feb 2024 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Parkinson DiseaseStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University of WashingtonThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Non-randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 40 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Washington
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Christopher Adams, University of Washington
- Investigators
- Christopher Adams, MS, MD, Principal investigator, University of Washington
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05917704
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- STUDY00017748
- Status last verified
- Jun 2023
- First submitted
- 6 Jun 2023
- Last updated
- 26 Jun 2023
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Publications
Adams C, Fulton G. A Cross-over Pilot Study on the Effects of Classical Guitar Instruction on Motor and Non-Motor Symptoms in People with Parkinson's Disease. Neurosci Insights. 2025 Mar 24;20:26331055251329878. doi: 10.1177/26331055251329878. eCollection 2025.
PubMed 40143890
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 26 Jun 2023. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- CAPO: Classical Guitar to Alleviate Parkinson's Disease Symptom Onus
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05917704
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- STUDY00017748
- Conditions
- Parkinson Disease
- Keywords
- Parkinson's disease, music-based therapy
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Unknown status
- Enrolment
- 40 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- University of WashingtonUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 6 Jun 2023 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 12 Dec 2023 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 1 Feb 2024 (estimated)
- First posted
- 26 Jun 2023 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The purpose of this study is to understand if training Parkinson's disease patients in classical guitar will improve motor function, mood, and quality of life. While medication has been found to be effective for many Parkinson's disease patients, many patients still have symptoms. Previous studies have found that music and rhythm-based activities can help Parkinson's disease symptoms. A previous study looked at the effect of playing classical guitar on Parkinson's disease symptoms. They found positive changes in Parkinson's disease symptoms that lasted for 6 weeks after the study ended. Further, there were positive changes in depression, anxiety, and quality of life.
Detailed description
Subjects will be asked to take part in classical guitar lessons once a week for six weeks and physical therapy once a week for six weeks. There will be 40 people enrolled in the study. Twenty people will have classical guitar lessons first and physical therapy second. The other twenty people will have physical therapy first and classical guitar lessons second. The study will last a total of 12 weeks. Each session will last 1-2 hours. Sessions will be held at the Northwest Chapter headquarters of the American Parkinson's Disease Association.
Examples of the types of activities subjects will do during the physical therapy sessions include finger exercises, tasks with both hands, tasks while standing, and tasks while walking.
Examples of the types of activities you will do during the classical guitar lessons include playing chords and songs on the guitar.
Subjects will have physical exams and complete questionnaires at the beginning of the study, at six weeks, and at the end of the study.
If subjects have Apple watches, they will be asked to download an application called StrivePD on their watch and iPhone. StrivePD is an application that allows subjects to keep track of their Parkinson's disease symptoms or set medication reminders, for example. When used with an Apple watch, it can automatically record symptoms like tremors. During this study, the StrivePD application will only be used to collect data about what percentage of the day they have tremors and how much they sleep.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Non-randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Guitar then physical therapy | Active comparator | Other: Guitar then physical therapySubjects will learn classical guitar then have physical therapy sessions. |
| Physical therapy then guitar | Active comparator | Other: Physical therapy then guitarSubjects will have physical therapy sessions then learn classical guitar |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 50 to 90 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (2 listed)
- 50-90 years old
- Diagnosis with Parkinson's disease by a Movement Disorder specialist
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Professional musician or formal music training
- Inability to play a classical guitar physically
- Inability to follow instruction
- Receiving physical therapy at the time of the study
- Unable to attend all sessions of study
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Guitar then physical therapySee arm/group descriptions | Other | Guitar then physical therapy |
| Physical therapy then guitarSee arm/group descriptions | Other | Physical therapy then guitar |
Primary outcome
Change in the motor subscore of the Movement Disorder Society Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Motor Subscale
Time frame: Baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks
Change in Parkinson's disease rating scale, range 0-32, higher score means more severe Parkinson's disease symptoms
6 secondary outcomes
Change in Parkinson's disease Questionnaire-39
Time frame: Baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks
Change in percent of day with tremor
Time frame: Baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks
Change in Beck Depression Inventory-II
Time frame: Baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks
Change in Apathy evaluation scale total score
Time frame: Baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks
Change in American Parkinson's disease Association symptom tracker score
Time frame: Baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks
Change in hours of sleep
Time frame: Baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks
Results and safety
Results are not available in the source record.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 26 Jun 2023.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 40143890Adams C, Fulton G. A Cross-over Pilot Study on the Effects of Classical Guitar Instruction on Motor and Non-Motor Symptoms in People with Parkinson's Disease. Neurosci Insights. 2025 Mar 24;20:26331055251329878. doi: 10.1177/26331055251329878. eCollection 2025.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Christopher Adams, MS, MD principal investigator
University of Washington
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Guitar then physical therapy and Physical therapy then guitar in people with Parkinson Disease, run by University of Washington at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 2 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: status not confirmed, as of the sponsor's last update on 26 Jun 2023. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
Results are not available in the source record.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Christopher Adams, MS, MD (206-616-5207, caadams1@uw.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change in the motor subscore of the Movement Disorder Society Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Motor Subscale (time frame: Baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT05917704, which also lists 1 linked publication.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 26 Jun 2023.