Does Isolated Robotic-Assisted Gait Training Improve Functional Status, Daily Living And Quality Of Life In Stroke?

NCT ID: NCT02759627

Last Updated: 2016-05-09

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

51 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2014-11-30

Study Completion Date

2016-03-31

Brief Summary

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Stroke is one of the major cause of morbidity and mortality and the leading cause of disability in adults all around the world. Stroke survivors can suffer several neurological impairments and deficits which have an important impact on patient's quality of life and which increase the costs for health and social services. After stroke, impairments in ADLs and functional status, deterioration in health related quality of life can be seen.

Although most of the stroke survivors experience some level of neurological recovery, nearly 50%-60% of stroke patients still experience some degree of motor impairment, and approximately 50% are at least partly dependent in activities-of-daily-living (ADL). Gait recovery, performing activities of daily living and regaining independence in ADLs are the main focus of stroke rehabilitation programs.

Robotic technologies are becoming more promising techniques for the locomotor training in stroke patients. Achieving a functional walking level is one of the target of robotic gait training and it has been shown that Robotic-Assisted Gait Training (RAGT) improves walking function in stroke patients. Having a functional gait level may help the stroke patients to regain independence in ADLs and improve quality of life.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of RAGT on functional status, ADLs and health related quality of life.

Detailed Description

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Design:

Our study design was a randomized single-blind controlled study of 6 weeks including inpatient ambulatory subacute and chronic stroke patients. Sample size was calculated by Raosoft, Inc. Clinically meaningful difference was considered 20% for all outcome measures. The original sample size was estimated 45 patients to detect a statistically significant difference between groups. Considering the drop-out, fifty-one patient were included. The patients were randomly assigned to one of three training group by a researcher (ARO) using the function of Microsoft Office Excel software.

In this randomized-controlled study, eighty patients were assessed in terms of eligibility criteria, and 51 patients were included in the study. The patients were evaluated by two physiatrists in Istanbul Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Education and Research Hospital and referred to the Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Unit of the same hospital. Enrollment period was between November 2014 and December 2015.

Blinding:

During the consent process, participants were advised that they would be randomized to one of three intervention groups. To minimize exposure between groups, the Robot-Assisted Gait Training and Conventional Training programs were administered in different sections of the rehabilitation center. The 2 trial physiotherapists could blinded to intervention group. All treatment schedules were planned by another researcher. All outcome assessments were conducted by a blinded assessor located offsite. Trial staff instructed participants to avoid mentioning anything about their intervention to the assessor. Patients were asked not to shear any information about treatment between each other.

Conditions

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Cerebrovascular Stroke Cerebrovascular Accident Cerebral Stroke

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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Conventional Training

Conventional physical therapy consisted of neurophysiological concepts such as Bobath and Brunnstrom.Training sessions focused on static and dynamic postural tasks, improving lower and upper extremity range of motion, strengthening and overground walking. During walking training, emphasis was on distance walked than on gait quality. Symmetrical weight distribution was encouraged through verbal and tactile cues and was made more difficult by the addition of arm activities or actions requiring trunk rotation. In an effort to improve rhythmic weight-shifting ability, subjects practiced shifting their weight in forward and backward directions and side to side while performing reaching tasks. A session lasted 45 minutes, for 5 days per week for 6 weeks.

Group Type NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Robotic-Assisted Gait Training

Lokomat (Hocoma) was used in Robotic-Assisted Gait Training group with 20 % body weight reduced. The participants walked on device at 1.8 km/h (0.5 m/sec) velocity. For each participant body weight portion was ensured by a security belt while walking. Each session took 45 minutes including setup, commands and rest time. Verbal instructions were used for encouragement but no manual assistance was given to improve gait. Robotic-Assisted Gait Training sessions lasted 45-minute sessions, 2 days a week during 6 weeks.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Robotic-Assisted Gait Training

Intervention Type OTHER

There were three intervention arms in this study,

1. Robotic-Assisted Gait Training,
2. Conventional Training,
3. Combined Training.

Combined Training

Combined Training consisted of inpatient participants who were treated with 45 minute-conventional training, 5 days a week during 6 weeks. Additionally this group had 45 minute-Robotic-Assisted Gait Training, 2 days a week during 6 weeks.

Group Type NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

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Robotic-Assisted Gait Training

There were three intervention arms in this study,

1. Robotic-Assisted Gait Training,
2. Conventional Training,
3. Combined Training.

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* diagnosis of a stroke (at least 3 months),
* ambulatory with or without the use of an assistive device or ankle-foot orthosis,
* 3 or higher grades in Functional Ambulation Category,
* able to walk 10 meters with or without supervision,
* able to follow verbal instructions,
* physician approval to enter an exercise program.

Exclusion Criteria

* previous stroke history,
* any other neurologic disorders, complications from other health conditions (cardiovascular or musculoskeletal conditions),
* contracture or muscle tonus ≥ 3 according to Modified Ashworth Scale, preventing range of motion in lower extremity,
* severe osteoporosis,
* cognitive deficit preventing them from following instructions.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

75 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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Istanbul University

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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RUSTEM MUSTAFAOGLU

MSc, PT

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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IPEK YELDAN, Assoc.prof

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

Istanbul University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Division of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Istanbul, Turkey

References

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Belda-Lois JM, Mena-del Horno S, Bermejo-Bosch I, Moreno JC, Pons JL, Farina D, Iosa M, Molinari M, Tamburella F, Ramos A, Caria A, Solis-Escalante T, Brunner C, Rea M. Rehabilitation of gait after stroke: a review towards a top-down approach. J Neuroeng Rehabil. 2011 Dec 13;8:66. doi: 10.1186/1743-0003-8-66.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 22165907 (View on PubMed)

Dombovy ML, Basford JR, Whisnant JP, Bergstralh EJ. Disability and use of rehabilitation services following stroke in Rochester, Minnesota, 1975-1979. Stroke. 1987 Sep-Oct;18(5):830-6. doi: 10.1161/01.str.18.5.830.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
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Mao YR, Lo WL, Lin Q, Li L, Xiao X, Raghavan P, Huang DF. The Effect of Body Weight Support Treadmill Training on Gait Recovery, Proximal Lower Limb Motor Pattern, and Balance in Patients with Subacute Stroke. Biomed Res Int. 2015;2015:175719. doi: 10.1155/2015/175719. Epub 2015 Nov 16.

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Silva SM, Correa FI, Faria CD, Correa JC. Comparison of quality-of-life instruments for assessing the participation after stroke based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). Braz J Phys Ther. 2013 Sep-Oct;17(5):470-8. doi: 10.1590/S1413-35552012005000118. Epub 2013 Oct 21. English, Portuguese.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 24173349 (View on PubMed)

Silva SM, Correa FI, Faria CD, Correa JC. Psychometric properties of the stroke specific quality of life scale for the assessment of participation in stroke survivors using the rasch model: a preliminary study. J Phys Ther Sci. 2015 Feb;27(2):389-92. doi: 10.1589/jpts.27.389. Epub 2015 Feb 17.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 25729175 (View on PubMed)

Lennon S, Baxter D, Ashburn A. Physiotherapy based on the Bobath concept in stroke rehabilitation: a survey within the UK. Disabil Rehabil. 2001 Apr 15;23(6):254-62. doi: 10.1080/096382801750110892.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 11336098 (View on PubMed)

Visintin M, Barbeau H. The effects of body weight support on the locomotor pattern of spastic paretic patients. Can J Neurol Sci. 1989 Aug;16(3):315-25. doi: 10.1017/s0317167100029152.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 2766124 (View on PubMed)

Fugl-Meyer AR, Jaasko L, Leyman I, Olsson S, Steglind S. The post-stroke hemiplegic patient. 1. a method for evaluation of physical performance. Scand J Rehabil Med. 1975;7(1):13-31.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 1135616 (View on PubMed)

Hsieh YW, Wang CH, Wu SC, Chen PC, Sheu CF, Hsieh CL. Establishing the minimal clinically important difference of the Barthel Index in stroke patients. Neurorehabil Neural Repair. 2007 May-Jun;21(3):233-8. doi: 10.1177/1545968306294729. Epub 2007 Mar 9.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
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Mustafaoglu R, Demir R, Demirci AC, Yigit Z. Effects of core stabilization exercises on pulmonary function, respiratory muscle strength, and functional capacity in adolescents with substance use disorder: Randomized controlled trial. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2019 Jul;54(7):1002-1011. doi: 10.1002/ppul.24330. Epub 2019 Apr 26.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 31026384 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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A-22

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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