Evaluating and Improving Robot Assisted Gait Training
Overview
- Phase
- N/A
- Intervention
- Robot Assisted Gait Training
- Conditions
- Physical Disability
- Sponsor
- University of Calgary
- Enrollment
- 50
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Change in Heart Rate Response to Exercise
- Status
- Recruiting
- Last Updated
- 2 months ago
Overview
Brief Summary
Early use of robotic gait trainers have shown many benefits, however why these benefits occur and how to maximize them is unknown. There are a few options for how a robotic gait trainer can be used, however, there is not much understanding of how these options impact rehabilitation and compensate for impairments. The investigators aim to evaluate the impacts of as single session of Trexo robotic gait training and the impact of different modes of the Trexo robotic gait trainer. The investigators will evaluate how the different settings impact things like physical activity, walking, brain activity, spasticity, and fatigue. Investigators will arrange for a familiarity and fitting session to start, so that study team members can fit the participant to the Trexo and so that participants can become familiar with the feeling of using the Trexo robotic gait trainer. After the initial fitting sessions, follow up sessions will be completed to evaluate different settings on the Trexo, for example in "endurance" mode (where the robot completes the movements for the participant) and in "strength" mode (where the robot requires some assistance from the participant). Investigators may also test different fitting settings, for example with and without the supportive seat in the Trexo. Only three visits are required (one fitting/familiarity session and two testing sessions), however participants and/or their families may choose to complete more testing sessions if they want to assess other aspects of the training. For example, if the first two testing sessions assessed physical activity, participants and their families may choose to return for further sessions to assess brain activity. The aim of the study is to determine how robot assisted gait training impacts rehabilitation and compensates for impairments, as well as to provide suggestions on how the robotic gait trainer might be improved or modified. This study is exploratory to find out more about how these robotic gait trainers, specifically the Trexo, impacts various aspects of rehabilitation.
Investigators
Elizabeth Condliffe, PhD MD
Assistant Clinical Professor
University of Calgary
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- •Able to fit into the Trexo robotic gait trainer (\<150 lbs., \<5'7").
- •Has impaired ability to walk due to a neurological or muscular disorder.
Exclusion Criteria
- •\>150 lbs.
- •\>5'6" tall
- •Medical contraindication to weight bearing (ie. recent orthopedic surgery)
Arms & Interventions
Passive "Endurance"
Participants will complete a training session using the Trexo robotic gait trainer in the "endurance" mode with a fixed gait pattern regardless of the participant's activity.
Intervention: Robot Assisted Gait Training
Voluntary activity "Strength"
Participants will complete a training session using the Trexo robotic gait trainer in the "strength" mode where the gait pattern is impacted by the participant's activity
Intervention: Robot Assisted Gait Training
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Change in Heart Rate Response to Exercise
Time Frame: Through study completion, an average of 4 weeks.
We will use the collected heart rate as well as an estimated maximum heart rate (208-0.7\*age) to determine the heart rate reserve (estimated maximum heart rate minus measured resting heart rate). Once the heart rate reserve has been calculated, the measured heart rate throughout the session will be used to determine how much time the participant spent above 40% of their heart rate reserve.
Secondary Outcomes
- Leg Muscle Spasticity(Through study completion, an average of 4 weeks.)
- Physical Activity Level(Through study completion, an average of 4 weeks.)
- Duration of Exercise Session(Through study completion, an average of 4 weeks.)
- Muscle Activation(Through study completion, an average of 4 weeks.)
- Total Number of Steps Taken(Through study completion, an average of 4 weeks.)
- Brain Region Activation(Through study completion, an average of 4 weeks.)
- Characteristics of Gait / Walking Pattern(Through study completion, an average of 4 weeks.)
- Average Number of Steps per Minute(Through study completion, an average of 4 weeks.)
- Participant or Proxy Report of Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE)(Through study completion, an average of 4 weeks.)