Kinematic characterization of children and adolescents with neurologic gait impairments during guided pelvis movements by the FreeD module in the gait robot Lokomat

Not Applicable

• Conditions: neurologic gait disorders; R26; Abnormalities of gait and mobility

• Registration Number: DRKS00020357
• Lead Sponsor: Rehabilitationszentrum für Kinder und Jugendliche

Brief Summary

Introduction Robot-assisted gait therapy is frequently used for gait therapy in children and adolescents but has been shown to limit the physiological excursions of the trunk and pelvis. Actuated pelvis movements might sup- port more physiological trunk patterns during robot-assisted training. However, not every patient is expected to react identically to actuated pelvis movements. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to identify different trunk movement patterns with and without actuated pelvis movements and compare them based on their similarity to the physiological gait pattern. Methods and results A clustering algorithm was used to separate pediatric patients into three groups based on different kinematic reactions of the trunk to walking with and without actuated pelvis movements. The three clusters included 9, 11 and 15 patients and showed weak to strong correlations with physiological treadmill gait. The groups also statistically differed in clinical assessment scores, which were consistent with the strength of the correlations. Patients with a higher gait capacity reacted with more physiological trunk movements to actuated pelvis movements. Conclusion Actuated pelvis movements do not lead to physiological trunk movements in patients with a poor trunk control, while patients with better walking functions can show physiological trunk movements. Therapists should carefully consider for whom and why they decide to include actuated pelvis movements in their therapy plan.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2020-01-07
• Study Completion: 2021-05-26
• Results First Posted: 2023-06-03
• Last Update Posted: 19 August 2024

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: Complete
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 38

Inclusion Criteria

1. Diagnosed neurological gait disorder
2. Age between 5 and 20 years
3. Leg length between 21cm and 45cm
4. Ability to understand simple instructions
5. Ability to express pain and discomfort

Exclusion Criteria

1. Body weight over 135kg
2. Pronounced contractures in the hip and/or knee joint.
3. Osteoporosis
4. Circulatory instability
5. Severe epilepsy
6. Skin lesions at the contact points between the Lokomat and the patient
7. Other factors that prevent the use of a Lokomat

Study & Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
The primary end point is the movement pattern (kinematic data) in the Lokomat. We want to investigate whether there is a difference between conventional Lokomat training and Lokomat training with the FreeD module.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
not available