Effects of Electromechanical Gait Trainer in Patients With Cerebral Palsy

NCT ID: NCT01564433

Last Updated: 2012-06-14

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: EARLY_PHASE1
• Total Enrollment: 20 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2011-11-30
• Study Completion Date: 2012-01-31

Brief Summary

Cerebral Palsy (CP) describes a group of chronic conditions affecting body movement and muscle coordination caused by damage to one or more areas of the brain, usually occurring during fetal development or infancy. One of the most disabling mobility impairments in CP is gait impairment, clinically characterized by reduced speed and endurance, as well as reduced step, stride length and toe clearance during gait.

Recently, gait rehabilitation methods in patients with neurological impairment have relied on technological devices, which drive the patient's gait in a body-weight support condition and emphasize the beneficial role of repetitive practice. Early studies in gait rehabilitation in patients with CP were carried out by using partial body-weight support treadmill training (PBWSTT) and robotic-assisted treadmill therapy. Despite their potential, these technologies have practical limitations in their routine application.

More recently, several studies have focused on the use of a new electromechanical gait trainer (Gait Trainer GT I; Reha-Stim, Berlin, Germany) in adult patients who have experienced a stroke. They have shown that training with this device may significantly improve gait performance. Despite the clinical impact of this new rehabilitative procedure, to date, no studies have been conducted on its use in children with CP.

Detailed Description

Cerebral Palsy (CP) describes a group of chronic conditions affecting body movement and muscle coordination caused by damage to one or more areas of the brain, usually occurring during fetal development or infancy. The motor disorders of CP are often accompanied by disturbances of sensation, cognition, communication, perception, behavior, and/or a seizure disorder. One of the most disabling mobility impairments in CP is gait impairment, clinically characterized by reduced speed and endurance, as well as reduced step, stride length and toe clearance during gait.

Recently, gait rehabilitation methods in patients with neurological impairment have relied on technological devices, which drive the patient's gait in a body-weight support condition and emphasize the beneficial role of repetitive practice. The rationale for these approaches originates from animal studies which have shown that repetition of gait movements may enhance spinal and supraspinal locomotor circuit.

Early studies in gait rehabilitation in patients with CP were carried out by using partial body-weight support treadmill training (PBWSTT) and robotic-assisted treadmill therapy. The majority of these studies consisted of single case, small or unselected patient samples and/or uncontrolled trials. In a recent randomized control trial study, Willoughby et al. showed that PBWSTT was no more effective than overground walking for improving walking speed and endurance in children with CP. They concluded that the progressive reduction of body weight support along with adding concurrent overground walking practice to a treadmill training protocol may increase the intensity of training and assist with carry over of improvements to overground walking. Despite their potential, these technologies have practical limitations in their routine application: PBWSTT requires the assistance of one or two physiotherapists to control the patient's weight shift and lower limb position during training and proper placement of the patient onto the machine (Lokomat, Hokoma Inc., Volketswill, Switzerland) for robotic-assisted treadmill training is time-consuming.

More recently, several studies have focused on the use of a new electromechanical gait trainer (Gait Trainer GT I; Reha-Stim, Berlin, Germany) in adult patients who have experienced a stroke. They have shown that training with this device may significantly improve gait performance. Despite the clinical impact of this new rehabilitative procedure, to date, no studies have been conducted on its use in children with CP.

The primary aim of the present randomized controlled trial is to evaluate whether repetitive locomotor training with the Gait Trainer GT I can improve endurance in tetra- or diplegic ambulatory children with CP. The secondary aim was to assess whether training can also have a positive impact on spatiotemporal gait parameters and quality of life.

Study Design Randomised controlled, blinded clinical trial.

Materials and methods Twenty CP patients will be enrolled in the study. The inclusion criteria will be: bilateral lower limb (diplegic or tetraplegic) CP, 10 to 18 years of age, GMFCS levels II to IV, walk by themselves or with the use of an assistance device for at least 10 meters, maintain a sitting position without assistance and follow instructions and participate in the rehabilitative program. The exclusion criteria will be: lower limb spasticity >2 on the Modified Ashworth Scale, severe lower limb contractures, cardiovascular diseases, orthopedic surgery or neurosurgery in the past 12 months or Botulinum toxin and injections within 6 months before the beginning of the study.

At the moment of recruitment (before treatment), at the end of treatment (6 weeks) and one month and two months after the end of the treatment (FU) each patient will be tested with the following clinical and instrumental procedures. Clinical assessment procedures: 6-minute Walking Test, Ten Meter Walking Test, Gross Motor Classification System, Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ-PF50) Italian version, Wee FIM and Energy Expenditure Index. Instrumental assessment procedures: Gait analysis by means of GAITRite® System and measure of energy cost by COSMED K4b2.

As primary outcome measure will be considered the 6-minute Walking Distance Test. As secondary outcomes measures will be considered Ten Meter Walking Test, Gross Motor Classification System, Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ-PF50) Italian version, Wee FIM and Energy Expenditure Index, Spatio-temporal parameter with GAITRite® System and measure of energy cost by COSMED K4b2. The allocation in the two groups will be done with simple randomisation.

Patients will be randomized into two groups. The first group (experimental group) will be subjected to 12 treatment session (3 sessions/week) on Gait Trainer machine for one month. The second group (control group) will undergo to a conventional treatment with the same duration and frequency of the experimental group. Data will be analysed by means parametric and non-parametric tests. Both, within and between groups comparison will be performed. Data will be analyzed using SPSS software (ver 11.0; SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA).

Conditions

Cerebral Palsy

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: SINGLE_GROUP
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: DOUBLE

Study Groups

Gait trainer treatment

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Device: Electromechanical gait trainer

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

The experimental group will be subjected to 12-30 minute session (3 per week: Monday, Wednesday, Friday) of repetitive locomotor therapy on the Gait Trainer (Reha-Stim, Berlin, Germany), followed by 20 minutes of passive joint mobilization and stretching exercises. The GT-I consists of a double crank and rocker gear system, composed of two footplates positioned on two bars (coupler), two rockers, and two cranks that provide the propulsion. While using the gait trainer, individuals are secured in a harness and positioned on two footplates, whose movements simulate stance and swing phase, with a ratio of 60% to 40% between the two phases. The body weight was initially reduced by 30% and then progressively increased.

Conventional group

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Convetional control treatment

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

The control group will be subjected to a conventional treatment that will consist of three different sets of exercises: 1) passive joint mobilization and stretching of lower limb muscles; 2) muscle strengthening exercises; 3) gait exercises. Each set of exercises lasted 10, 15 and 15 min, respectively with 2,5 min at rest between each set for a total of 40 minutes.

Interventions

Device: Electromechanical gait trainer

The experimental group will be subjected to 12-30 minute session (3 per week: Monday, Wednesday, Friday) of repetitive locomotor therapy on the Gait Trainer (Reha-Stim, Berlin, Germany), followed by 20 minutes of passive joint mobilization and stretching exercises. The GT-I consists of a double crank and rocker gear system, composed of two footplates positioned on two bars (coupler), two rockers, and two cranks that provide the propulsion. While using the gait trainer, individuals are secured in a harness and positioned on two footplates, whose movements simulate stance and swing phase, with a ratio of 60% to 40% between the two phases. The body weight was initially reduced by 30% and then progressively increased.

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

Convetional control treatment

The control group will be subjected to a conventional treatment that will consist of three different sets of exercises: 1) passive joint mobilization and stretching of lower limb muscles; 2) muscle strengthening exercises; 3) gait exercises. Each set of exercises lasted 10, 15 and 15 min, respectively with 2,5 min at rest between each set for a total of 40 minutes.

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• bilateral lower limb (diplegic or tetraplegic) Cerebral Palsy
• 10 to 16 years of age
• GMFCS levels II to IV
• walk by themselves or with the use of an assistance device for at least 10 meters
• maintain a sitting position without assistance
• follow instructions and participate in the rehabilitative program

Exclusion Criteria

• lower limb spasticity >2 on the Modified Ashworth Scale
• severe lower limb contractures
• cardiovascular diseases
• orthopedic surgery or neurosurgery in the past 12 months or Botulinum toxin injections within 6 months before the beginning of the study

• Minimum Eligible Age: 10 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 16 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Universita di Verona

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Nicola Smania, MD, Clinical Professor

Prof. Smania Nicola

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Antonio Fiaschi, Professor

Role: STUDY_CHAIR

Department Neurological, Neuropsychological, Morphological and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy

Locations

S.S.O. di Riabilitazione dell'Ospedale Policlinico

Verona, , Italy

Countries

Italy

References

Willoughby KL, Dodd KJ, Shields N, Foley S. Efficacy of partial body weight-supported treadmill training compared with overground walking practice for children with cerebral palsy: a randomized controlled trial. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2010 Mar;91(3):333-9. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2009.10.029.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 20298820 (View on PubMed)

Borggraefe I, Schaefer JS, Klaiber M, Dabrowski E, Ammann-Reiffer C, Knecht B, Berweck S, Heinen F, Meyer-Heim A. Robotic-assisted treadmill therapy improves walking and standing performance in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy. Eur J Paediatr Neurol. 2010 Nov;14(6):496-502. doi: 10.1016/j.ejpn.2010.01.002. Epub 2010 Feb 6.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 20138788 (View on PubMed)

Willoughby KL, Dodd KJ, Shields N. A systematic review of the effectiveness of treadmill training for children with cerebral palsy. Disabil Rehabil. 2009;31(24):1971-9. doi: 10.3109/09638280902874204.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 19874075 (View on PubMed)

Damiano DL, DeJong SL. A systematic review of the effectiveness of treadmill training and body weight support in pediatric rehabilitation. J Neurol Phys Ther. 2009 Mar;33(1):27-44. doi: 10.1097/NPT.0b013e31819800e2.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 19265768 (View on PubMed)

Foley A, Horwood J, Hall R. Language for change. Aust Fam Physician. 1980 Jun;9(6):416-22. No abstract available.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 7213237 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

PCI-GT-2

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id