The Effects of Vibrotactile Stimulation in Patients With Movement Disorders

Vibration applied to the skin has been anecdotally reported to potentially improve motor control in patients with movement disorders including Parkinson's disease, however few devices have been studied formally. In this study, the investigators will test the effect of skin surface vibration applied non-invasively to patients with movement disorders to determine if there are any beneficial effects on common tasks of motor control and/or abnormal motor symptoms in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), essential tremor (ET), and dystonia.

This study is to evaluate the feasibility, reliability, and clinical effects of Non-invasive vibrotactile stimulation (VTS) on basic tasks of motor control and on the motor symptoms of patients with movement disorders. VTS Settings will include continuous stimulation, intermittent stimulation during walking, and sham stimulation. The investigators will recruit 30 patients with PD who are between the ages of 18-80 years old and independently living in the community. The investigators will additionally recruit up to 5 patients with ET and up to 5 patients with dystonia.