Improving Gait in Patients With Spinal Cord Injuries

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

PHASE2

Total Enrollment

36 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

1998-05-31

Study Completion Date

2002-04-30

Brief Summary

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This study is part of a larger clinical trial that examines the potential of a 12-week treadmill-training program to improve walking in patients with spinal cord injuries (SCIs). Patients in the trial are at least 1 year past their injury. This substudy tests a combination of two strategies to enhance the treadmill training program: electrically stimulating a muscle withdrawal reflex and providing body weight support by partially suspending patients as they walk on the treadmill.

Detailed Description

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Patients with spastic paresis due to incomplete SCI have inadequate motor control of the lower extremities that results in a number of abnormalities of movement. Among these are unregulated spinal reflexes, inadequate and delayed motor recruitment, and balance deficits. If the patient can walk, these abnormalities manifest in a gait pattern that has poorly coordinated timing between different muscle groups, decreased weight bearing capacity, and inappropriate muscle activity, such as scissoring.

Research in patients with SCIs has demonstrated that, despite the damage to the spinal cord, many of the nervous system pathways that control walking remain intact and can be activated by the proper sensory stimulation. Two technologies that may enhance the benefits of treadmill walking are body weight support (BWS) and functional electrical stimulation (FES). Preliminary studies indicate that by combining these two interventions, gait performance is improved such that more efficient and functional movement emerges. This study will evaluate the benefits of adding BWS and FES to a treadmill-training program for patients with SCIs.

During the treadmill training, patients are suspended in an apparatus to provide partial body weight support (BWS). The training effects of BWS locomotion with FES over the course of a multi-session training program will be examined. Study visits will be scheduled 3 days each week for 12 weeks. Participants will have follow-up visits at Months 3 and 12. Gait parameters modified by training will be identified and the nature of these changes will be characterized. Specifically, walking speed, kinematics, electromyography (EMG), and muscle strength will be assessed.

Conditions

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Spinal Cord Injuries

Keywords

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Locomotion Spinal Cord Injury, ASIA C Body weight support (BWS) Functional electrical stimulation (FES) Gait Treadmill training Physical Therapy

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Interventions

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Body weight supported locomotor training

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Functional electrical stimulation

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Spinal cord injury classified as American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) C
* At least 1 year post injury

Exclusion Criteria

* Spinal cord injuries of other severities (classified ASIA A, B, D, or E)

Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

60 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Principal Investigators

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Edelle Carmen Field, Ph.D., P.T.

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Miami

Locations

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Miami Project, Bantle Center

Miami, Florida, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

Other Identifiers

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5K01HD001193-02

Identifier Type: NIH

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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