MedPath

Saving Life and Limb: FES for the Elderly With PAD

Phase 1
Completed
Conditions
Peripheral Arterial Disease
Registration Number
NCT02384980
Lead Sponsor
MultiCare Health System Research Institute
Brief Summary

This study will take the first step to improve public health for millions of Americans with Peripheral Arterial Disease who have extreme difficulty walking due to leg pain. The investigators will assess a proof of concept, home administered, functional electrical stimulation (FES) system to resolve pain, improve walking, and enhance quality of life.

Detailed Description

This study will evaluate an innovative approach to reduce the debilitating symptoms of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and ischemic pain during walking (intermittent claudication) by using a new Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) system. The investigators hypothesize that combining the FES and walking one hour/day (FES+Walk) will significantly reduce pain during walking, improve locomotion, and enhance quality of life when compared to walking one hour/day (Walk) alone after 8 weeks of intervention.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
43
Inclusion Criteria

Patients who:

  1. Are ambulatory, community dwelling adults with evidence of PAD including ankle/brachial index ABI=0.4-0.9
  2. Have symptom severity of Fontaine stage II-III
  3. Have a score of 24 or higher on the Folstein Mini Mental test
  4. Have visible muscle contraction of the plantar flexor (PF) and dorsiflexor (DF) muscles using FES
Exclusion Criteria

Patients who:

  1. Have an electronic implanted stimulator such as pacemaker, defibrillator, deep brain stimulator, spinal cord stimulator
  2. Are pregnant
  3. Cannot walk without a walker or require human assistance to walk,
  4. Present with arthritis or neurological damage resulting in paresis or paralysis of the lower extremity
  5. Have skin lesion(s) on the legs where the FES is placed

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change from initial assessment, baseline, end of intervention and final assessment using the 6 Minute Walk TestInitial, baseline assessment, assessment at the end of 8 weeks intervention, and final assessment at 16 weeks (8 weeks post- intervention)

We will measure the changes in distance walked during the 6 minute walk test

Change from initial assessment, baseline, end of intervention and final assessment using the Peripheral Artery Disease Quality of Life QuestionnaireInitial, baseline assessment, assessment at the end of 8 weeks intervention and final assessment at 16 weeks (8 weeks post- intervention)

We will record and measure the changes in questionnaire scores from baseline to end of intervention and end of post-intervention

Change from initial assessment, baseline, end of intervention and final assessment using the Perceived Pain Intensity ScaleInitial, baseline assessment, assessment at the end of 8 weeks intervention and final assessment at 16 weeks (8 weeks post-intervention)

We will measure the changes in pain scores from baseline to end of intervention and end of post-intervention

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change from initial assessment, baseline, end of intervention and final assessment using the Timed-Up-and-Go testInitial, baseline assessment, assessment at the end of 8 weeks intervention and final assessment at 16 weeks (8 weeks post- intervention)

We will measure the time (seconds) to complete the test from baseline to end of intervention and end of post-intervention

Change from initial assessment, baseline, end of intervention and final assessment using the Intermittent Claudication Questionnaire (ICQ)Initial, baseline assessment, assessment at the end of 8 weeks intervention and final assessment at 16 weeks (8 weeks post- intervention)

We will record and measure the questionnaire score from baseline to end of intervention and end of post-intervention

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

MultiCare Health System

🇺🇸

Tacoma, Washington, United States

MultiCare Health System
🇺🇸Tacoma, Washington, United States

MedPath

Empowering clinical research with data-driven insights and AI-powered tools.

© 2025 MedPath, Inc. All rights reserved.