Translation of Robotic Apparel for Alleviating Low Back Pain: Back Pain Consortium (BACPAC)
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Completed
- Sponsor
- Enrollment
- 44
- Locations
- 2
- Primary Endpoint
- Change in Suit Safety measured by patient reported body discomfort
Study Overview
Brief Summary
This is a NIAMS-sponsored clinical trial being conducted through the NIH Helping to End Addition Long-term (HEAL) Initiative's Back Pain Consortium (BACPAC) Research Program. This is a single-arm controlled trial with individuals aged 18-70 with low back pain (LBP). This study investigates the effect(s) of augmenting physical therapy (PT) interventions with the use of an experimental wearable soft robotic device ('exosuit').
Detailed Description
Low back pain (LBP) has a lifetime prevalence of 80%, with approximately 20% of individuals experiencing recurrent episodes or chronic LBP (cLBP). Unfortunately, the evidence for the effectiveness of most rehabilitative treatment is low. With an economic burden approaching $100-billion in the United States alone, the National Institutes of Health has invested millions of dollars in innovative technologies aiming to improve rehabilitative care for low back injuries. As part of this initiative, the investigator's collaborative network of expert clinicians, engineers, and researchers have developed and tested robotic apparel technology (exosuit) that supplements ergonomic and biomechanical training and can be utilized by clinicians in the treatment of individuals with LBP.
Failed rehabilitation, and thus progression from acute to cLBP, is thought to be caused by maladaptive motor control strategies, muscle hyperactivity, reduced movement variability, and development of fear-avoidance-beliefs. The exosuit technology was designed to reduce exertion, encourage safe, varied movement strategies, and promote recovery through well-timed assistive forces to the trunk and hips during flexion postures and lifting tasks. The proposed project builds on this work through use of the exosuit to augment traditional physical therapy care. In doing so, the investigators will determine whether this technology can enhance rehabilitation after back injuries, interrupt the progression of acute to chronic LBP, encourage non-maladaptive movement strategies, and expedite the timeline of return to prior level of function.
To examine the effects of exosuit augmented physical therapy rehabilitation and reduce disability, the investigators will recruit individuals with LBP who are referred to or receiving physical therapy into a single arm clinical trial. The investigators will evaluate feasibility, safety and usability of the exosuit, as well as changes in pain and disability throughout 6 weeks of rehabilitation and compare outcomes to a historical control group who received usual care. The investigators will also evaluate changes in fear-avoidance beliefs, range of motion, and motor control and compare outcomes between exosuit-augmented and no suit conditions over the 6 weeks. Primary outcomes of feasibility, usability, and safety of using a back exosuit to augment routine physical therapy will be evaluated. Secondary outcomes include the efficacy of using a back exosuit to augment routine physical therapy, measured by comparing changes in self-perceived pain and disability compared to the historical control group. Tertiary outcomes include the identification of interventional phenotypes by determining the relationship between changes in symptoms and changes in biomechanics function through exosuit-augmented physical therapy.
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Na
- Intervention Model
- Single Group
- Primary Purpose
- Treatment
- Masking
- None
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 18 Years to 70 Years (Adult, Older Adult)
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria
- •Age 18-70
- •Diagnosis of LBP by licensed medical provider or self-report of lower back pain (initially gathered through partial HIPAA waiver, and confirmed during in-person screening visit)
- •Self-reported LBP with bending or lifting
- •Able to walk without an assistive device.
- •Willing and able to provide informed consent.
- •Provide HIPAA Authorization to allow communication with the primary healthcare provider (e.g., treating physical therapist) for communication (as needed) during the study period.
- •Must undergo physical therapy examination with research physical therapist and be assigned a Treatment-Based Classification (TBC) of movement impairment or control impairment.
Exclusion Criteria
- •Unable to attend all scheduled visits and 1-month phone follow-up
- •Currently pregnant or likely to become pregnant within 6 weeks
- •Having received surgery to address current LBP
- •Having pain or symptoms below the knee that seems related to their current LBP
- •Having current LBP lasting less than 2 weeks
- •Diagnosed or self-reported neurological disorders effecting motor control (stroke, Parkinson's disease, etc.)
- •Use of a pacemaker or other implanted medical devices
- •Currently under treatment for cancer
- •Skin issues / sensitivity that an exosuit could exacerbate (e.g., Epidermolysis Bullosa)
- •Any other medical conditions that would preclude safe use of the exosuit device as determined by a physical therapist
Arms & Interventions
Exosuit Augmented Physical Therapy
participants will attend an in person screening, initial visit (1), 10 (2-11) sessions of physical therapy and a discharge visit (12). Participants will undergo a comprehensive biomechanical analysis on visits 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12, completing an extensive battery of surveys at visits 1, discharge, and 1-month post-discharge. Treatment will incorporate evidence-based physical therapy care based on clinical presentation to include manual therapy, therapeutic exercise, and functional therapeutic activities. A portion of each session will include exosuit use.
Intervention: Back Exosuit (Device)
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Change in Suit Safety measured by patient reported body discomfort
Time Frame: Post Every Visit including baseline (time 0), all follow-up visits (up to 8 weeks of treatment)
The patient-reported level of current body discomfort will be appraised using a localized Numerical Rating Scale of Pain. At the end of every study visit, participants will rank their pain level in regions contacted by the exosuit, including the i) shoulders, chest, and upper back, ii) lower back, and iii) the thighs and lower legs. Results range from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating increased pain intensity.
Change in Suit Effect & Safety measured by Perceived Task Discomfort
Time Frame: Measured periodically (at visits 1, 3, 6, 9, 12) between baseline (time 0) and 6-8 weeks of treatment.
The patient-reported level of task discomfort will be measured at the end of selected biomechanical assessment tasks (performed with the suit in a slack and active condition). Participants will rank task discomfort on a numerical rating scale of task discomfort. Results range from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating higher total body difficulty.
Change in Biomechanical Suit Effect measured by Trunk range of motion
Time Frame: Measured periodically (at visits 1, 3, 6, 9, 12) between baseline (time 0) and 6-8 weeks of treatment.
Inertial measurement units (IMUs) are positioned on the torso and each thigh. IMU biomechanics will be processed to determine the peak trunk range of motion. This measure will be calculated in all planes of motion. For selected biomechanical assessment tasks (performed with the suit in a slack and active condition) peak angles and velocity will quantify biomechanical effects.
Change in Biomechanical Suit Effect measured by trunk coordination
Time Frame: Measured periodically (at visits 1, 3, 6, 9, 12) between baseline (time 0) and 6-8 weeks of treatment.
Inertial measurement units (IMUs) are positioned on the torso and each thigh. IMU biomechanics will be processed to determine the peak trunk velocity. This measure will be calculated in all planes of motion. For selected biomechanical assessment tasks (performed with the suit in a slack and active condition) peak angles and velocity will quantify biomechanical effects.
Change in Suit Usability measured by Quebec User Evaluation of Satisfaction with Assistive technology (QUEST survey 2.0)
Time Frame: Measured periodically (at visits 1, 3, 6, 9, 12) between baseline (time 0) and 6-8 weeks of treatment.
Suit usability measured by the QUEST survey 2.0. The QUEST is a standardized usability scale to determine a user's device satisfaction. Results range from 1 to 5 on a Likert Scale, with higher scores (5) corresponding to a very satisfied response.
Change in Suit Safety measured by patient-reported pain
Time Frame: Pre and Post Every Visit including baseline (time 0), all follow-up visits (up to 8 weeks of treatment)
The Numerical Rating Scale of Pain will measure patient-reported levels of current pain intensity at the beginning and end of every study visit. Results range from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating increased pain intensity.
Change in Functional Suit Effect measured by endurance lifting task
Time Frame: Measured periodically (at visits 1, 3, 6, 9, 12) between baseline (time 0) and 6-8 weeks of treatment.
Measured during dynamic 2.5 minute dynamic asymmetric lifting task. The maximum repetitions performed will compared between the slack and active suit conditions.
Change in Suit Effect measured by Concern of Movement
Time Frame: Measured periodically (at visits 1, 3, 6, 9, 12) between baseline (time 0) and 6-8 weeks of treatment.
Patient-reported level of concern of movement will be measured at the end of each biomechanical visit. Four selected images from the Photo Series of Daily Activity will be ranked, with the participants envisioning themselves completing the task with or without the aid of the exosuit (Quirk et al., 2023). Results range from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating higher concern with completing the task.
Change in Suit Effect measured by Perceived task effort
Time Frame: Measured periodically (at visits 1, 3, 6, 9, 12) between baseline (time 0) and 6-8 weeks of treatment.
Patient-reported level of task effort will be measured at the end of selected biomechanical assessment tasks (performed with the suit in a slack and active condition). Participants will rank task difficulty on a numerical rating scale of task difficulty. Results range from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating higher task difficulty.
Change in Biomechanical Suit Effect measured by Trunk velocity
Time Frame: Measured periodically (at visits 1, 3, 6, 9, 12) between baseline (time 0) and 6-8 weeks of treatment.
Inertial measurement units (IMUs) are positioned on the torso and each thigh. IMU biomechanics will be processed to determine the peak trunk velocity. This measure will be calculated in all planes of motion. For selected biomechanical assessment tasks (performed with the suit in a slack and active condition) peak angles and velocity will quantify biomechanical effects.
Change in Functional Suit effect measured by peak deadlift pull force
Time Frame: Measured periodically (at visits 1, 3, 6, 9, 12) between baseline (time 0) and 6-8 weeks of treatment.
Measured during maximum voluntary isometric contractions (kg) will be measured using a stationary dynamometer. Peak full force will be measured for the slack and active suit condition.
Change in Functional Suit Effect measured by peak dynamic lifting force
Time Frame: Measured periodically (at visits 1, 3, 6, 9, 12) between baseline (time 0) and 6-8 weeks of treatment.
Measured during dynamic 4 repetitions, progressive (5 pound incremental) floor-to-waist functional capacity lifting evaluation. The maximum mass lifted (repetitions performed) will compared between the slack and active suit conditions.
Secondary Outcomes
- Change in Pain measured by Numerical rating scale of pain (worst in last 24 hours)(Pre and Post Every Visit including baseline (time 0), all follow-up visits (up to 8 weeks of treatment), and follow-up post discharge (up to 13 weeks post time 0))
- Change in Patient-reported Disability score measured by the modified Oswestry Disability Questionnaire (MDQ)(Pre and Post Every Visit including baseline (time 0), all follow-up visits (up to 8 weeks of treatment), and follow-up post discharge (up to 13 weeks post time 0))