The Brave Initiative: Bringing Rehabilitation to American Veterans in an Enriched Environment

NCT ID: NCT02339220

Last Updated: 2023-12-06

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

NA

Total Enrollment

42 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2016-09-30

Study Completion Date

2019-04-24

Brief Summary

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The purpose of this study is to determine the value of Constraint-Induced Movement therapy (CIMT) for improving motor function and general fitness in adults with subacute and chronic traumatic brain injury (TBI), particularly TBI acquired during active military duty, in comparison to a Lakeshore Enriched Fitness Training (LEFT). The study will also test the effect of a set of enhanced versus "standard" procedures for transferring therapeutic gains from treatment setting to everyday life. Lastly, this study will determine whether any therapeutic effects observed are correlated with neuroplastic white matter or grey matter changes.

Detailed Description

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The proposed project is a prospective, randomized, controlled, single-blind study comparing the motor improvements resulting from Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT) and Lakeshore Enriched Fitness Training (LEFT) for traumatic brain injury (TBI) in veterans and civilians. Over the course of two years, there will be a total of 80 subjects randomly assigned to 4 conditions. Treatment, testing, and follow-up testing will be carried out in the first 3 grant years and the 1-year follow-up will be completed in the fourth year. Clinical testing will be conducted at pre-treatment, post-treatment, and 1-year follow-up. Longitudinal neuroimaging studies to determine the treatment change in white matter, grey matter, and functional brain connectivity will be carried out across the above-noted time points by different diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) analysis variants, voxel-based morphometry (VBM) analysis of structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, analysis of resting state functional MRI (fMRI), and analysis of fMRI during hand movement.

The 80 study participants will be randomly assigned in equal numbers to 1 of 4 arms: CIMT with Standard Transfer Package (sTP), CIMT with Enhanced Transfer Package (eTP), LEFT with sTP or LEFT with eTP. Forty volunteers will be tested on average per year. The patients will be classified into mild/moderate (Grade 2) and moderate motor deficits (Grades 3); a classification made at the impairment level based on standard active range of motion (AROM) criteria (further elaborated in "Eligibility Criteria").

The primary clinical outcome will be pre- to post-treatment change in a measure of use of the more-affected arm in daily life known as the Motor Activity Log. It is described in the outcomes section. As noted above, the response of the brain to the interventions will be examined using structural grey matter MRI analysis, DTI, and fMRI during resting state and during arm movement.

Each participant will have the option of being accompanied by a caregiver (travel and living expenses paid for by the project). The caregiver will be asked to complete the MAL independently of the participant. The same questionnaire administered to the patient will be administered to the caregiver. In addition, the caregiver will be shown how to help the patient carry out the home practice exercises so that they can do this during treatment and afterwards (if they remain in close contact with the participant).

Conditions

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Traumatic Brain Injury

Keywords

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Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Occupational Therapy Fitness Training Recovery of Function Neuroplasticity Exercise Therapy Brain Injuries Traumatic Brain Injury Physical Therapy Modalities Neuroimaging

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

FACTORIAL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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Standard CI Therapy Group

This group will receive Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT) with the Standard Transfer Package (sTP).

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT)

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT) is a form of physical rehabilitation based on basic research in behavioral psychology and behavioral neuroscience. The therapy will be given on an outpatient basis for 3.5 hours/day for 10 consecutive weekdays. This treatment has four components: 1. intensive training in use of the more-affected arm; 2. organization of this training following shaping principles, which involve frequent positive feedback and progressively increasing the demand of the task in small increments; 3. discouraging use of the less-affected arm by placing the hand in a padded safety mitt, and 4. a set of behavioral procedures, known as the Transfer Package, for transferring gains from the treatment to real-world setting. In this study, two forms of the Transfer Package, standard and enhanced, will be used and form a separate factor (see below).

standard Transfer Package (sTP)

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

This intervention will take, on average, 30 minutes out of the 3.5 hour daily planned for treatment. The sTP is a set of behavioral procedures for transferring gains from the treatment setting to real-world. The procedures when the sTP is applied to CIMT include negotiating a behavioral contract with the patient and caregiver, when available, about use of each arm during the treatment period, keeping a daily diary on arm use, completing a structured interview about use of the more-affected arm in daily, problem solving about perceived barriers to use of the more-affected arm outside the treatment setting during treatment, and four weekly follow-up phone calls to assess use of the more-affected arm and problem solve about any remaining barriers perceived to its use. The sTP when applied to the LEFT intervention will have parallel components that target engagement in fitness activities and overcoming perceived barriers to fitness in the home.

Enhanced CI Therapy Group

This group will receive CIMT with the enhanced Transfer Package (eTP).

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT)

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT) is a form of physical rehabilitation based on basic research in behavioral psychology and behavioral neuroscience. The therapy will be given on an outpatient basis for 3.5 hours/day for 10 consecutive weekdays. This treatment has four components: 1. intensive training in use of the more-affected arm; 2. organization of this training following shaping principles, which involve frequent positive feedback and progressively increasing the demand of the task in small increments; 3. discouraging use of the less-affected arm by placing the hand in a padded safety mitt, and 4. a set of behavioral procedures, known as the Transfer Package, for transferring gains from the treatment to real-world setting. In this study, two forms of the Transfer Package, standard and enhanced, will be used and form a separate factor (see below).

enhanced Transfer Package (eTP)

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

This intervention will take, on average, 30 minutes out of the 3.5 hour daily planned for treatment. It is an enhanced form of the sTP. The enhancements include a computerized version of the daily diary, cues to be placed in patients' homes to prompt engagement in desired activities, and additional follow-up phone calls.

Standard Fitness Training Group

This group will receive Lakeshore Enriched Fitness Training (LEFT) with the standard Transfer Package (sTP).

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Lakeshore Enriched Fitness Training (LEFT)

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

This treatment will given on an outpatient basis for 3.5 hours per day for 10 consecutive weekdays. It will consist of the following components: general fitness exercises (largely lower extremity), sports and recreation (land and water-based); adapted Yoga; breathing exercises and postural control, movement to music, massage therapy, meditation and Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR).

standard Transfer Package (sTP)

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

This intervention will take, on average, 30 minutes out of the 3.5 hour daily planned for treatment. The sTP is a set of behavioral procedures for transferring gains from the treatment setting to real-world. The procedures when the sTP is applied to CIMT include negotiating a behavioral contract with the patient and caregiver, when available, about use of each arm during the treatment period, keeping a daily diary on arm use, completing a structured interview about use of the more-affected arm in daily, problem solving about perceived barriers to use of the more-affected arm outside the treatment setting during treatment, and four weekly follow-up phone calls to assess use of the more-affected arm and problem solve about any remaining barriers perceived to its use. The sTP when applied to the LEFT intervention will have parallel components that target engagement in fitness activities and overcoming perceived barriers to fitness in the home.

Enhanced Fitness Training Group

This group will receive LEFT with the enhanced Transfer Package (eTP)

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Lakeshore Enriched Fitness Training (LEFT)

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

This treatment will given on an outpatient basis for 3.5 hours per day for 10 consecutive weekdays. It will consist of the following components: general fitness exercises (largely lower extremity), sports and recreation (land and water-based); adapted Yoga; breathing exercises and postural control, movement to music, massage therapy, meditation and Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR).

enhanced Transfer Package (eTP)

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

This intervention will take, on average, 30 minutes out of the 3.5 hour daily planned for treatment. It is an enhanced form of the sTP. The enhancements include a computerized version of the daily diary, cues to be placed in patients' homes to prompt engagement in desired activities, and additional follow-up phone calls.

Interventions

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Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT)

Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT) is a form of physical rehabilitation based on basic research in behavioral psychology and behavioral neuroscience. The therapy will be given on an outpatient basis for 3.5 hours/day for 10 consecutive weekdays. This treatment has four components: 1. intensive training in use of the more-affected arm; 2. organization of this training following shaping principles, which involve frequent positive feedback and progressively increasing the demand of the task in small increments; 3. discouraging use of the less-affected arm by placing the hand in a padded safety mitt, and 4. a set of behavioral procedures, known as the Transfer Package, for transferring gains from the treatment to real-world setting. In this study, two forms of the Transfer Package, standard and enhanced, will be used and form a separate factor (see below).

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Lakeshore Enriched Fitness Training (LEFT)

This treatment will given on an outpatient basis for 3.5 hours per day for 10 consecutive weekdays. It will consist of the following components: general fitness exercises (largely lower extremity), sports and recreation (land and water-based); adapted Yoga; breathing exercises and postural control, movement to music, massage therapy, meditation and Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR).

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

standard Transfer Package (sTP)

This intervention will take, on average, 30 minutes out of the 3.5 hour daily planned for treatment. The sTP is a set of behavioral procedures for transferring gains from the treatment setting to real-world. The procedures when the sTP is applied to CIMT include negotiating a behavioral contract with the patient and caregiver, when available, about use of each arm during the treatment period, keeping a daily diary on arm use, completing a structured interview about use of the more-affected arm in daily, problem solving about perceived barriers to use of the more-affected arm outside the treatment setting during treatment, and four weekly follow-up phone calls to assess use of the more-affected arm and problem solve about any remaining barriers perceived to its use. The sTP when applied to the LEFT intervention will have parallel components that target engagement in fitness activities and overcoming perceived barriers to fitness in the home.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

enhanced Transfer Package (eTP)

This intervention will take, on average, 30 minutes out of the 3.5 hour daily planned for treatment. It is an enhanced form of the sTP. The enhancements include a computerized version of the daily diary, cues to be placed in patients' homes to prompt engagement in desired activities, and additional follow-up phone calls.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Other Intervention Names

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CI therapy

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

\- Motor criteria will be made using an impairment-level system for characterizing the severity of an upper-extremity (UE) motor deficit based on Active Range of Motion (AROM). All UE motor criteria determinations will be made with the subject sitting. The more-affected forearm will be resting on a supporting surface (e.g. arm of chair) to allow for maximum wrist flexion with gravity. This study will treat patients at levels of Grade 2 (mild/moderate impairment) and Grade 3 (moderate impairment).

* The minimum motor criterion (MMC) for inclusion in Grade 3 (moderate impairment) will be ability to:

* Extend against gravity at least 10 degrees at the wrist from a fully flexed starting position
* Extend two or more fingers at least 10 degrees at the metacarpophalangeal (MP) joint and either the proximal or distal interphalangeal (IP) joints
* Extend or abduct the thumb at least 10 degrees
* Extend the elbow at least 20 degrees from a 90 degree flexed starting position
* Flex and abduct the shoulder at least 45 degrees
* The MMC for inclusion in Grade 2 (mild/moderate impairment) will be ability to:

* Extend against gravity at least 20 degrees at the wrist from a fully flexed starting position
* Extend all fingers at least 10 degrees at the MP joint and either the proximal or distal IP joints
* Extend or abduct the thumb at least 10 degrees
* Extend the elbow at least 20 degrees from a 90 degree flexed starting position
* Flex and abduct the shoulder at least 45 degrees
* Additionally, subjects must have substantially reduced use of the extremity in the activities of daily living as indicated by a score of less than 2.5 on the Motor Activity Log (MAL).

Note: Each movement described above must be repeated 3 times in 1 minute.

Exclusion Criteria

* Those \< 3 months post-TBI.
* Excessive UE spasticity.
* Insufficient stamina to carry out the requirements of the therapy (based on clinical judgment).
* Medication (including psychoactive substances) will not be exclusionary except in the following cases: (If subjects are on other medications, the medications will be recorded and the possible effect on treatment outcome will be analyzed separately)

* Participation in any experimental drug field study
* Botox injections to the more-affected UE less than 3 months prior to participation
* Baclofen or Dantrium taken orally at the time of study
* Mini-Mental Status Exam (MMSE) score below 20.
* Concurrent participation in any formal physical rehabilitation program or clinical trial.
* Excessive pain in any joint of the more-affected extremity that could limit ability to cooperate with the intervention (based on clinical judgment).
* Serious, uncontrolled medical problems (e.g., cardiovascular, severe rheumatoid arthritis, serious joint deformity of arthritic origin, symptomatic cancer or renal disease, any kind of end-stage pulmonary or cardiovascular disease, uncontrolled epilepsy) as judged by the Medical Director.
* Other neurological or musculoskeletal conditions affecting UE function.
* Unable to read or speak English.
* Inadequate communication skills, i.e., not able to reliably understand questions or not able to express needs or report own behavior, to participate in study based on clinical judgment.
* Substantial use of the more-affected arm in daily life as reflected by a Motor Activity Log score \> 2.5.
* Pain that interferes with use of the more-affected arm based on clinical judgment.
* A positive pregnancy test will exclude participants from MRI scanning, but would not exclude them from clinical treatment.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

90 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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United States Department of Defense

FED

Sponsor Role collaborator

University of Alabama at Birmingham

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Gitendra Uswatte

Professor

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Edward Taub, Ph.D.

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

CI Therapy Research Group and Taub Training Clinic

Locations

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University of Alabama at Birmingham

Birmingham, Alabama, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

References

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Taub E, Miller NE, Novack TA, Cook EW 3rd, Fleming WC, Nepomuceno CS, Connell JS, Crago JE. Technique to improve chronic motor deficit after stroke. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1993 Apr;74(4):347-54.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 8466415 (View on PubMed)

Taub E, Uswatte G, King DK, Morris D, Crago JE, Chatterjee A. A placebo-controlled trial of constraint-induced movement therapy for upper extremity after stroke. Stroke. 2006 Apr;37(4):1045-9. doi: 10.1161/01.STR.0000206463.66461.97. Epub 2006 Mar 2.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 16514097 (View on PubMed)

Shaw SE, Morris DM, Uswatte G, McKay S, Meythaler JM, Taub E. Constraint-induced movement therapy for recovery of upper-limb function following traumatic brain injury. J Rehabil Res Dev. 2005 Nov-Dec;42(6):769-78. doi: 10.1682/jrrd.2005.06.0094.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 16680614 (View on PubMed)

Morris DM, Taub E, Mark VW, Liu W, Brenner L, Pickett T, Stearns-Yoder K, Bishop-McKay S, Taylor A, Reder L, Adams T, Rimmer J, Dew D, Szaflarski J, Womble B, Stevens L, Rothman D, Uswatte G. Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial of CI Therapy for Rehabilitation of Upper Extremity Motor Deficit: The Bringing Rehabilitation to American Veterans Everywhere Project. J Head Trauma Rehabil. 2019 Jul/Aug;34(4):268-279. doi: 10.1097/HTR.0000000000000460.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 30608308 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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PT130232

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id