Development and Evaluation of a Novel Portable Robotic Gait Rehabilitation in Chronic Stroke

NCT ID: NCT03444688

Last Updated: 2018-04-10

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

UNKNOWN

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

100 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2018-04-02

Study Completion Date

2018-12-10

Brief Summary

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The aims of this study is to test the training effects of the robotic walker. This study will compare the effectiveness of 2 different types of gait training protocols in chronic stroke patients, 1) conventional gait training (CT, control group), and 2) gait rehabilitation with the new walker modified after 1st stage (WT, experimental group).

Detailed Description

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This will be a prospective single blind randomized control trial where investigators propose to recruit a maximum of 100 older chronic stroke patients (age 50 years to 90 years old) with mild to severe lower limb motor function impairment.

Recruited subjects will have 19 study visits. The recruited 100 subjects will be divided into 2 groups of 50 each through a simple randomization scheme; 1) Conventional gait training (CT, control group) and 2) Gait rehabilitation with the new walker modified after 1st stage (WT, experimental group). Each subject will undergo training programs consisting of 45 minutes training session (excluding rest periods), 3 days (alternate) a week for 6 consecutive weeks.

Subjects allocated to the CT group will receive physiotherapy program, including active assisted or passive range of motion and conventional gait and balance training. The subjects will first perform active assisted or passive range of motion of the lower limbs including ankle, knee, and hip joint in the supine position for 10 minutes. Subjects will then perform conventional gait and balance therapy based on the proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) concept for 15 minutes. Among the PNF techniques, investigators will facilitate pelvic motion to improve control and mobility of the subjects. Subjects will be given a 5 minutes rest. Finally, the CT subjects will undergo the over-ground gait training with or without aid or orthoses and with manual assistance from senior physiotherapist for 15 minutes, depending on the individual subject's abilities.

For WT group, subjects will first go through active assisted or passive range of motion of the lower limbs including ankle, knee, and hip joint in the supine position for 10 minutes. The main therapy consists of 2 parts with 5 minutes rest in between. During part 1, subjects will be trained on the robotic walker with the help of active body weight support (BWS) and functional electrical stimulation (FES) for 15 minutes with pelvic motion support function and lateral balance function being continuously provided. The level of BWS will be provided as much as the subjects can support his or her residual body weight (10% to 30% BWS). The BWS force will be gradually reduced as soon as the subjects can support his or her full body weight. The clinical criterion for the reduction is that the subjects show the ability to move his or her hips and are able to support his or her own body weight sufficiently on the affected lower limb and straighten their legs during the single-leg stance phase. Therapists will be able to control the level of BWS force according to the criteria mentioned above. FES will be used to stimulate the peroneal nerve in the affected side, and the intensity of the device will be painlessly controlled by allowing sufficient dorsiflexion and eversion during the swing phase. FES will be set to synchronize with the inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensors and the stimulation timing for the common peroneal nerve will based on the detected gait phase by IMU sensors. During part 2, subjects will also receive resistance/assistance forces on top of the BWS and FES training for 15 minutes. The decision on providing resistance or assistance modes will be made according to the subjects' functional ambulation category (FAC) level. For subjects with FAC level less than 3, the assistive function will be implemented, otherwise resistive function will be applied. The assistance and resistance forces will be applied proportional to the BW of the subjects (2% to 7% of BW), which is determined by therapists. The rationale of dividing the WT group into 2 parts of different training is that the 1st part is to provide basic locomotive function with persistent and repetitive sensory stimulation while the 2nd part is to add task-specificity to improve weight-bearing, aerobic, functional strengthening and balance for the neurologically challenged patients by implementing a variety of walking tasks. Investigators expect that the repetitive and persistent walking with task-specific gait training will promote better functional outcomes than the conventional gait therapy.

During the session, subjects can request for a rest anytime if they experience discomfort or fatigue. Additionally, investigators will provide them with a 5 - 15 minutes of rest time. The rest period given depends on individual subjects' needs. Investigators will seek their opinion whether subjects have enough rest and are well to continue with the session. Longer rest period will be given to the subjects who require them. During the resting period and also the period where subjects are not required to participate, a chair will be provided for the subject to sit and rest.

The session will be conducted under the supervision/assistance of senior physiotherapist, research assistants and engineering group. Clinical symptoms/adverse clinical developments will be closely monitored.

Outcomes will be measured before (T0), immediately after (T1) and 1 month after the end of treatment (T2) of 6 weeks therapy session by an independent senior physiotherapist to ensure blinding.

Conditions

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Stroke

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

The recruited subjects will be divided into 2 groups through a simple randomization scheme using Microsoft Excel ("rand function"); 1) Conventional gait training (CT, control group) and 2) Gait rehabilitation with the new walker modified after 1st stage (WT, experimental group). Each subject will undergo training programs consisting of 45 minutes training session (excluding rest periods), 3 days (alternate) a week for 6 consecutive weeks.
Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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CT, Control Group

Conventional Gait Training

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Conventional Gait Training

Intervention Type OTHER

Subjects allocated to the CT group will first perform active assisted or passive range of motion of the lower limbs including ankle, knee, and hip joint in the supine position for 10 minutes. They will then perform conventional gait and balance therapy based on the proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) concept for 15 minutes. They will be given a 5 minutes rest. Finally, the CT subjects will undergo the over-ground gait training with or without aid or orthoses and with manual assistance from senior physiotherapist for 15 minutes, depending on the individual subject's abilities.

WT, Experimental Group

Gait rehabilitation with walker

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Gait rehabilitation with walker

Intervention Type DEVICE

For WT group, subjects will first go through active assisted or passive range of motion of the lower limbs including ankle, knee, and hip joint in the supine position for 10 minutes. The main therapy consists of 2 parts with 5 minutes rest in between. During part 1, subjects will be trained on the robotic walker with the help of active body weight support (BWS) and functional electrical stimulation (FES) for 15 minutes with pelvic motion support function and lateral balance function being continuously provided. During part 2, subjects will also receive resistance/assistance forces on top of the BWS and FES training for 15 minutes.

Interventions

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Conventional Gait Training

Subjects allocated to the CT group will first perform active assisted or passive range of motion of the lower limbs including ankle, knee, and hip joint in the supine position for 10 minutes. They will then perform conventional gait and balance therapy based on the proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) concept for 15 minutes. They will be given a 5 minutes rest. Finally, the CT subjects will undergo the over-ground gait training with or without aid or orthoses and with manual assistance from senior physiotherapist for 15 minutes, depending on the individual subject's abilities.

Intervention Type OTHER

Gait rehabilitation with walker

For WT group, subjects will first go through active assisted or passive range of motion of the lower limbs including ankle, knee, and hip joint in the supine position for 10 minutes. The main therapy consists of 2 parts with 5 minutes rest in between. During part 1, subjects will be trained on the robotic walker with the help of active body weight support (BWS) and functional electrical stimulation (FES) for 15 minutes with pelvic motion support function and lateral balance function being continuously provided. During part 2, subjects will also receive resistance/assistance forces on top of the BWS and FES training for 15 minutes.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Patient is aged 50 years to 90 years old
* More than 6 months from first ever stroke but within 5 years confirmed by CT or MRI Brain
* Mild to severe unilateral motor weakness (hemiparesis has to be severe with lower extremity strength graded as 3 or less on the Medical Research Council scale in more than 2 muscle groups) and severity should be between 5 and 25 calculated according to National Institute of Health Stroke Scale
* Significant gait deficits ( Functional Ambulation Category , FAC ≤ 4 )
* Able to understand instructions and participate in rehabilitation
* Spasticity: Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) less than 4
* Independent trunk control
* Comfortable to walk without a walking aid

Exclusion Criteria

* Patient undergoing any formal rehabilitation program
* Multiple stroke
* Intracranial bleeds
* Any chronic disabling pathologies
* Spasticity limiting lower extremity ROM to less than 80 %
* Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) score \< 24
* Significant sensory deficit/ hemisensory neglect
* Any recent surgeries including orthopedic
* Active cancers or any other terminal illness
* Significant orthostatic hypotension
* Hip, knee and ankle arthrodesis
* Severe vascular disorders in lower limbs
* Having permanent pacemakers or ventriculoperitoneal shunt
* Subject's weight \> 75kg
Minimum Eligible Age

50 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

90 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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National University of Singapore

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

National University Hospital, Singapore

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

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Santhosh Kumar Seetharaman

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

National University Hospital, Singapore

Locations

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National University Hospital

Singapore, , Singapore

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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Singapore

Central Contacts

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Santhosh Kumar Seetharaman

Role: CONTACT

+65 6779 5555

Aileen Pang

Role: CONTACT

+65 6601 3288

Facility Contacts

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Pang

Role: primary

References

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Schmidt H, Sorowka D, Hesse S, Bernhardt R. [Development of a robotic walking simulator for gait rehabilitation]. Biomed Tech (Berl). 2003 Oct;48(10):281-6. doi: 10.1515/bmte.2003.48.10.281. German.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 14606269 (View on PubMed)

Patton J, Brown DA, Peshkin M, Santos-Munne JJ, Makhlin A, Lewis E, Colgate EJ, Schwandt D. KineAssist: design and development of a robotic overground gait and balance therapy device. Top Stroke Rehabil. 2008 Mar-Apr;15(2):131-9. doi: 10.1310/tsr1502-131.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 18430678 (View on PubMed)

Hornby TG, Campbell DD, Kahn JH, Demott T, Moore JL, Roth HR. Enhanced gait-related improvements after therapist- versus robotic-assisted locomotor training in subjects with chronic stroke: a randomized controlled study. Stroke. 2008 Jun;39(6):1786-92. doi: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.107.504779. Epub 2008 May 8.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 18467648 (View on PubMed)

Kwakkel G, Kollen BJ, Krebs HI. Effects of robot-assisted therapy on upper limb recovery after stroke: a systematic review. Neurorehabil Neural Repair. 2008 Mar-Apr;22(2):111-21. doi: 10.1177/1545968307305457. Epub 2007 Sep 17.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 17876068 (View on PubMed)

Mayo NE, Wood-Dauphinee S, Ahmed S, Gordon C, Higgins J, McEwen S, Salbach N. Disablement following stroke. Disabil Rehabil. 1999 May-Jun;21(5-6):258-68. doi: 10.1080/096382899297684.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 10381238 (View on PubMed)

Forster A, Young J. Incidence and consequences of falls due to stroke: a systematic inquiry. BMJ. 1995 Jul 8;311(6997):83-6. doi: 10.1136/bmj.311.6997.83.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 7613406 (View on PubMed)

Daly JJ, Zimbelman J, Roenigk KL, McCabe JP, Rogers JM, Butler K, Burdsall R, Holcomb JP, Marsolais EB, Ruff RL. Recovery of coordinated gait: randomized controlled stroke trial of functional electrical stimulation (FES) versus no FES, with weight-supported treadmill and over-ground training. Neurorehabil Neural Repair. 2011 Sep;25(7):588-96. doi: 10.1177/1545968311400092. Epub 2011 Apr 22.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 21515871 (View on PubMed)

Scheidt RA, Stoeckmann T. Reach adaptation and final position control amid environmental uncertainty after stroke. J Neurophysiol. 2007 Apr;97(4):2824-36. doi: 10.1152/jn.00870.2006. Epub 2007 Jan 31.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 17267755 (View on PubMed)

Patton JL, Stoykov ME, Kovic M, Mussa-Ivaldi FA. Evaluation of robotic training forces that either enhance or reduce error in chronic hemiparetic stroke survivors. Exp Brain Res. 2006 Jan;168(3):368-83. doi: 10.1007/s00221-005-0097-8. Epub 2005 Oct 26.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 16249912 (View on PubMed)

Kao PC, Srivastava S, Agrawal SK, Scholz JP. Effect of robotic performance-based error-augmentation versus error-reduction training on the gait of healthy individuals. Gait Posture. 2013 Jan;37(1):113-20. doi: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2012.06.025. Epub 2012 Jul 24.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 22832470 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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DSRB 2017/00696

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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