Interactive Exoskeleton Robot for Walking - Ankle Joint

NCT ID: NCT02471248

Last Updated: 2017-09-18

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

25 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2015-05-27

Study Completion Date

2016-12-31

Brief Summary

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A novel interactive exoskeleton robotic system with embedded force and motion sensors will be developed to facilitate walking of stroke patients with hemiparesis. The robot will synchronise with the gait pattern of the stroke patient to provide assistance in ankle dorsiflexion during swing phase. It is hypothesised that the robot can facilitate stable and longer walking distance for stroke patients with drop foot problem. It can be applied on unilateral side, which is suitable for stroke patients with hemiparesis. The whole system design is lightweight, compact, comfortable, and user-friendly in hospital or at home settings.

Detailed Description

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In this clinical trial, participated stroke patients will be divided into two groups: Robotic group and Sham group. Stroke patients in both groups will participate in a 20-session gait training program, which includes overground walking and stair climbing exercises. Robotic group will walk with the powered Ankle Robot, which provide ankle dorsiflexion support during swing phase of walking; Sham group will walk with the Ankle Robot with very low assistance level, which provide only tactile feedback but no ankle support in order to evaluate the placebo effect. A series of clinical assessments will be carried out to assess the functional recovery in stroke patients before and after the gait training program.

Conditions

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Stroke

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

TRIPLE

Participants Caregivers Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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Ankle Robot with Power Assistance

In this experimental group, the Ankle Robot assists the ankle dorsiflexion when the stroke patients voluntarily perform the swing phase gait movement.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Ankle Robot with Power Assistance

Intervention Type DEVICE

Stroke patients will enrol in a 20-session gait training program for at least two sessions per week. In each session, the stroke patient will walk overground continuously for 2 \* 10 minutes and walk up/down a staircase (about 10 steps per flight) for 10 minutes, rest will be provided in between each round of walking or stair climbing. This training can promote gait recovery and physical fitness.

They will wear the Ankle Robot during the gait training. The motor will synchronise with the paretic-side gait pattern to provide dorsiflexion moment during swing phase, and free the ankle joint when the sole is loaded.

Sham group

In this sham group, the Ankle Robot provides very low assistance to generate tactile feedback to the stroke patients indicating they are performing the swing phase gait movement, but no assistance will be given to support their ankle dorsiflexion.

Group Type PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Sham

Intervention Type DEVICE

Stroke patients will enrol in a 20-session gait training program for at least two sessions per week. In each session, the stroke patient will walk overground continuously for 2 \* 10 minutes and walk up/down a staircase (about 10 steps per flight) for 10 minutes, rest will be provided in between each round of walking or stair climbing. This training can promote physical fitness.

They will wear the Ankle Robot during the gait training. The robot will synchronise with the paretic-side gait pattern to the Ankle Robot provides very low assistance which can be barely perceived by the stroke patient but does not suffice to support the ankle dorsiflexion.

Interventions

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Ankle Robot with Power Assistance

Stroke patients will enrol in a 20-session gait training program for at least two sessions per week. In each session, the stroke patient will walk overground continuously for 2 \* 10 minutes and walk up/down a staircase (about 10 steps per flight) for 10 minutes, rest will be provided in between each round of walking or stair climbing. This training can promote gait recovery and physical fitness.

They will wear the Ankle Robot during the gait training. The motor will synchronise with the paretic-side gait pattern to provide dorsiflexion moment during swing phase, and free the ankle joint when the sole is loaded.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Sham

Stroke patients will enrol in a 20-session gait training program for at least two sessions per week. In each session, the stroke patient will walk overground continuously for 2 \* 10 minutes and walk up/down a staircase (about 10 steps per flight) for 10 minutes, rest will be provided in between each round of walking or stair climbing. This training can promote physical fitness.

They will wear the Ankle Robot during the gait training. The robot will synchronise with the paretic-side gait pattern to the Ankle Robot provides very low assistance which can be barely perceived by the stroke patient but does not suffice to support the ankle dorsiflexion.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

1. Ischemic or hemorrphagic stroke with drop foot problem.
2. Sufficient cognition to follow simple instructions and to understand the content and purpose of the study. (Mini-Mental State Examination \> 21)
3. Capable of standing and walking independently for an extended period of time. (Functional Ambulation Category \> 3, Berg Balance Scale \> 40)

Exclusion Criteria

1. Any medical or psychological dysfunctions that would affect their ability to comply with test study protocol, such as lower back pain, neuralgia, rotational vertigo, muscloskeletal disorders, injuries, and pregnancy.
2. Any severe contractures in hip, knee, or ankle joint that would preclude passive range of motion in the lower extremity.
3. Participation in any therapeutic treatment ("outside therapy") performed with the lower extremity during the planned study, including the baseline and the follow-up.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

85 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Innovation and Technology Commission, Hong Kong

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Chinese University of Hong Kong

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Raymond KY Tong

Professor

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Raymond KY Tong, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Department of Biomedical Engineering, CUHK

Locations

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Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Hong Kong, , Hong Kong

Site Status

Countries

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Hong Kong

References

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Yeung LF, Ockenfeld C, Pang MK, Wai HW, Soo OY, Li SW, Tong KY. Randomized controlled trial of robot-assisted gait training with dorsiflexion assistance on chronic stroke patients wearing ankle-foot-orthosis. J Neuroeng Rehabil. 2018 Jun 19;15(1):51. doi: 10.1186/s12984-018-0394-7.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 29914523 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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2015.037-T (Ankle)

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id