Fall Prevention and Locomotion Recovery in Post-stroke Patients: A Multimodal Training
试验速览
- 阶段
- 不适用
- 入组人数
- 72
- 试验地点
- 2
- 主要终点
- Gait Speed
研究概览
简要总结
The study proposes a novel rehabilitative program for the recovery of locomotor abilities in post-acute stroke patients. The hypothesis is that a rehabilitative program which involves a biofeedback cycling training combining voluntary effort and Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) of the leg muscles, and a biofeedback balance training is superior to usual care in improving walking abilities, disability, motor performance, and independence of post-acute stroke patients. The innovative approach is to investigate whether interventions which do not directly involve locomotor functions but movements similar in terms of kinematic patterns and neural commands (e.g. pedaling), or aimed at recovering an essential prerequisite for walking, such as postural control during upright stance, may improve and/or accelerate the recovery of walking abilities.
A single-blind randomized controlled study is carried out. Participants are post-acute stroke patients experiencing a first stroke less than 6 months before recruitment, with an adult age, a low level of spasticity of the leg muscles (Modified Ashworth scale <2), no limitations at hip, knee, and ankle joints, and able to sit up to 30 minutes. Subjects are randomized to one of two groups, one performing the novel rehabilitative program in addition to usual care (experimental group), and one performing usual care alone (control group).
The experimental program consists of 15 sessions of FES-supported voluntary cycling training followed by 15 sessions of balance training. Both cycling and balance training are supported by a visual biofeedback in order to maximize patients' involvement in the exercise and are performed in addition to usual care.
The control group is involved in standard physical therapy which includes stretching, muscular conditioning, exercises for trunk control, standing, and walking training, and upper limb rehabilitation.
Both training programs last 6 weeks and patients are trained daily for about 90 minutes. Cycling and balance training last about 20 minutes; thus, patients in the experimental group perform only about 70 minutes of usual care.
Participants are evaluated at baseline (T1), after the end of the cycling training or after 3 weeks of usual care (post-treatment, T2), after the end of the whole intervention (post-treatment, T3), and about 6 months after the end of the intervention (follow-up, T4).
详细描述
More details on the experimental training program are here provided.
The cycling training is performed on a motorized cycle-ergometer (MOTOmed, Reck GmbH) equipped with force sensors mounted at the base of the cranks (PowerForce system, Radlabor GmbH). The acquired force signals are displayed to the subjects who are asked to achieve a symmetrical involvement of the two legs. To deliver FES, a current-controlled 8-channel stimulator (RehaStim; Hasomed GmbH) is used and surface electrodes are applied in a bipolar configuration on the quadriceps, hamstrings, gastrocnemius lateralis, and tibialis anterior of both legs. Rectangular biphasic pulses with a pulse width of 400 μs and a stimulation frequency of 20 Hz are adopted. The stimulus intensity is set on each muscle the first day of training: for the paretic muscles values well tolerated by the subject and able to produce visibly good muscle contractions are identified, whereas for the healthy side lower values just above the sensory threshold are used. The stimulation timing is synchronized to the cycling movement according to physiological stereotyped activation patterns.
The balance training is performed during upright stance using a balance board (Balance board basic™, NeuroCom® International, Inc.). Subjects are asked to keep still or move their center of pressure following a target displayed on a screen in front of them.
研究设计
- 研究类型
- Interventional
- 分配方式
- Randomized
- 干预模型
- Parallel
- 主要目的
- Treatment
- 盲法
- Single (Outcomes Assessor)
入排标准
- 年龄范围
- 18 Years 至 85 Years（Adult, Older Adult）
- 性别
- All
- 接受健康志愿者
- 否
入选标准
- •post-acute stroke patients experiencing a first stroke (both ischemic or hemorrhagic) less than 6 months before recruitment
- •low level of spasticity of the leg muscles (Modified Ashworth scale <2)
- •no limitations at hip, knee, and ankle joints
- •able to sit up to 30 minutes
排除标准
- •neurological impairment (Mini mental scale <24)
- •presence of other neurological diseases
- •spatial hemineglect
- •cardiac pacemakers
- •allergy to electrodes
- •an inability to tolerate electrical stimulation.
结局指标
主要结局
Gait Speed
时间窗: "6 weeks"
Subjects are asked to walk three times at self-selected speed over the GaitRite mat using their walking aid (if any) or receiving the needed assistance. Spatial-temporal parameters are evaluated using the GaitRite software.
次要结局
- Gait speed("Day 0", "3 weeks", "6 months+6 weeks")
- Motor power of the paretic lower extremity assessed by Motricity Index("Day 0", "3 weeks", "6 weeks", "6 months+6 weeks")
- Trunk Control assessed by Trunk Control Test("Day 0", "3 weeks", "6 weeks", "6 months+6 weeks")
- Balance control assessed by Berg Balance Scale("Day 0", "3 weeks", "6 weeks", "6 months+6 weeks")
- Aerobic capacity/endurance during gait assessed by 6-minute walking test("Day 0", "3 weeks", "6 weeks", "6 months+6 weeks")
- Abilities during activities of daily life assessed by Functional Independence Measure("Day 0", "3 weeks", "6 weeks", "6 months+6 weeks")
- Risk of fall assessed by Fall Efficacy Scale("Day 0", "3 weeks", "6 weeks", "6 months+6 weeks")
- Patient's perception of the effect of the intervention assessed by Global Perceived Effect("6 weeks")
- Pedaling performance assessed by Pedaling test("Day 0", "3 weeks","6 months+6 weeks")
- Balance performance assessed by Balance test("3 weeks", "6 weeks", "6 months+6 weeks")
研究者
Simona Ferrante
PhD
Politecnico di Milano