High Intensity Training for Neurological Injury Using Overground Exoskeletons in Inpatient Rehabilitation

NCT ID: NCT04973852

Last Updated: 2023-10-06

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

Get a concise snapshot of the trial, including recruitment status, study phase, enrollment targets, and key timeline milestones.

Recruitment Status

UNKNOWN

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

20 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2021-10-06

Study Completion Date

2024-08-31

Brief Summary

Review the sponsor-provided synopsis that highlights what the study is about and why it is being conducted.

The purpose of this study is to see if it's possible to reach high cardiovascular intensity training parameters (exercise at a rate that elevates heart rate to the level recommended for improving strength and endurance) while walking in a wearable robotic exoskeleton. This study will also evaluate if exercising at high intensity will lead to improvement in walking ability. Participants in this study will be asked to attend 5 walking training sessions using Ekso exoskeleton. There will be two additional sessions, one before and one after the five training sessions. At these two sessions, study participants will be asked to participate in seated balance, walking speed and endurance tests and breathing assessments.

Detailed Description

Dive into the extended narrative that explains the scientific background, objectives, and procedures in greater depth.

The purpose of this study is to determine the feasibility and potential efficacy to implement high cardiovascular intensity training parameters (70-80% heart rate reserve) with the use of overground wearable robotic exoskeletons in an inpatient rehabilitation setting for locomotor recovery.

The second aim is to investigate the potential functional improvements in gait after receiving high-intensity locomotor training with an overground exoskeleton, as measured on the 10-meter walk test and six-minute walk test.

Conditions

See the medical conditions and disease areas that this research is targeting or investigating.

Spinal Cord Injuries

Study Design

Understand how the trial is structured, including allocation methods, masking strategies, primary purpose, and other design elements.

Allocation Method

NA

Intervention Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

Review each arm or cohort in the study, along with the interventions and objectives associated with them.

Exoskeleton

5 sessions of overground ambulation with wearable exoskeleton where heart rate is monitored over each session.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Ekso

Intervention Type DEVICE

Exoskeleton walking

Interventions

Learn about the drugs, procedures, or behavioral strategies being tested and how they are applied within this trial.

Ekso

Exoskeleton walking

Intervention Type DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

Check the participation requirements, including inclusion and exclusion rules, age limits, and whether healthy volunteers are accepted.

Inclusion Criteria

* Able to achieve adequate fit within the exoskeleton
* Diagnosis of CVA or motor incomplete SCI (AIS C or D)
* Sufficient range of motion to attain normal, reciprocal gait pattern, and transition from normal sit to stand or stand to sit
* Intact skin on all surfaces in contact with device and load-bearing surfaces
* Weight \<220 pounds

Exclusion Criteria

* Pregnancy
* Spinal instability
* Unhealed limb or pelvic fractures or any condition restricting weight-bearing in limbs
* Diagnosis of other neurological injuries other than CVA or SCI
* Uncontrolled spasticity (≥3 on Modified Ashworth Scale)
* Colostomy
* Decreased range of motion or contractures in legs (\>10° at hips, knees, or ankles)
* Uncontrolled autonomic dysreflexia
* Unresolved deep vein thrombosis
* Inability to tolerate standing due to cardiovascular issues or orthostatic hypotension
* Inability to follow 3 step commands
* Severe comorbidities: active infections, heart, lung, or circulatory conditions
* Pressure sores, impaired skin integrity
* Use of mechanical ventilation for respiratory support
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

Meet the organizations funding or collaborating on the study and learn about their roles.

The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

Identify the individual or organization who holds primary responsibility for the study information submitted to regulators.

Shuo-Hsiu Chang

Assistant Professor

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Learn about the lead researchers overseeing the trial and their institutional affiliations.

Shuo-Hsiu (James) Chang

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

The University of Texas Health Sciences Center at Houston

Locations

Explore where the study is taking place and check the recruitment status at each participating site.

NeuroRecovery Research Center at TIRR Memorial Hermann

Houston, Texas, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

Review the countries where the study has at least one active or historical site.

United States

Central Contacts

Reach out to these primary contacts for questions about participation or study logistics.

Shuo-Hsiu (James) Chang

Role: CONTACT

713-799-7016

Marcie Kern

Role: CONTACT

713-799-6995

Facility Contacts

Find local site contact details for specific facilities participating in the trial.

James Chang

Role: primary

References

Explore related publications, articles, or registry entries linked to this study.

Brazg G, Fahey M, Holleran CL, Connolly M, Woodward J, Hennessy PW, Schmit BD, Hornby TG. Effects of Training Intensity on Locomotor Performance in Individuals With Chronic Spinal Cord Injury: A Randomized Crossover Study. Neurorehabil Neural Repair. 2017 Oct-Nov;31(10-11):944-954. doi: 10.1177/1545968317731538. Epub 2017 Oct 30.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 29081250 (View on PubMed)

Lotter JK, Henderson CE, Plawecki A, Holthus ME, Lucas EH, Ardestani MM, Schmit BD, Hornby TG. Task-Specific Versus Impairment-Based Training on Locomotor Performance in Individuals With Chronic Spinal Cord Injury: A Randomized Crossover Study. Neurorehabil Neural Repair. 2020 Jul;34(7):627-639. doi: 10.1177/1545968320927384. Epub 2020 Jun 1.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 32476619 (View on PubMed)

Hornby TG, Henderson CE, Plawecki A, Lucas E, Lotter J, Holthus M, Brazg G, Fahey M, Woodward J, Ardestani M, Roth EJ. Contributions of Stepping Intensity and Variability to Mobility in Individuals Poststroke. Stroke. 2019 Sep;50(9):2492-2499. doi: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.119.026254. Epub 2019 Aug 22.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 31434543 (View on PubMed)

Holleran CL, Rodriguez KS, Echauz A, Leech KA, Hornby TG. Potential contributions of training intensity on locomotor performance in individuals with chronic stroke. J Neurol Phys Ther. 2015 Apr;39(2):95-102. doi: 10.1097/NPT.0000000000000077.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 25784587 (View on PubMed)

Holleran CL, Straube DD, Kinnaird CR, Leddy AL, Hornby TG. Feasibility and potential efficacy of high-intensity stepping training in variable contexts in subacute and chronic stroke. Neurorehabil Neural Repair. 2014 Sep;28(7):643-51. doi: 10.1177/1545968314521001. Epub 2014 Feb 10.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 24515925 (View on PubMed)

Moore JL, Nordvik JE, Erichsen A, Rosseland I, Bo E, Hornby TG; FIRST-Oslo Team. Implementation of High-Intensity Stepping Training During Inpatient Stroke Rehabilitation Improves Functional Outcomes. Stroke. 2020 Feb;51(2):563-570. doi: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.119.027450. Epub 2019 Dec 30.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 31884902 (View on PubMed)

Leech KA, Hornby TG. High-Intensity Locomotor Exercise Increases Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in Individuals with Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury. J Neurotrauma. 2017 Mar 15;34(6):1240-1248. doi: 10.1089/neu.2016.4532. Epub 2017 Jan 18.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 27526567 (View on PubMed)

Hornby TG, Holleran CL, Hennessy PW, Leddy AL, Connolly M, Camardo J, Woodward J, Mahtani G, Lovell L, Roth EJ. Variable Intensive Early Walking Poststroke (VIEWS): A Randomized Controlled Trial. Neurorehabil Neural Repair. 2016 Jun;30(5):440-50. doi: 10.1177/1545968315604396. Epub 2015 Sep 3.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 26338433 (View on PubMed)

Holleran CL, Hennessey PW, Leddy AL, Mahtani GB, Brazg G, Schmit BD, Hornby TG. High-Intensity Variable Stepping Training in Patients With Motor Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury: A Case Series. J Neurol Phys Ther. 2018 Apr;42(2):94-101. doi: 10.1097/NPT.0000000000000217.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 29547484 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

Review additional registry numbers or institutional identifiers associated with this trial.

HSC-MS-21-0262

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

More Related Trials

Additional clinical trials that may be relevant based on similarity analysis.

Real-time Neuromuscular Control of Exoskeletons
NCT04661891 ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING NA