Effects of Soft Robotic Exosuit on Exercise Capacity, Biomakers of Neuroplasticity, and Motor Learning After Stroke
试验速览
- 阶段
- 不适用
- 状态
- 已完成
- 发起方
- 入组人数
- 11
- 试验地点
- 4
- 主要终点
- Concentration of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)
研究概览
简要总结
High intensity exercise is known to improve a person's ability to learn new motor skills. The goal of this project is to evaluate if a robotic exosuit can help people who have had a stroke perform walking rehabilitation at higher intensities than they are able to without the exosuit. The investigators will measure exercise training intensity, biomarkers of neuroplasticity (e.g., brain-derived neurotrophic factor; BDNF), and motor learning when people poststroke exercise with and without the exosuit. For this protocol, exosuits developed in collaboration with ReWalk™ Robotics will be used.
Aim 1: Determine the effects of a soft robotic exosuit on gait training intensity and serum BDNF in persons post-stroke completing a single bout of high intensity walking.
Hypothesis 1: Exosuits will allow individuals post-stroke to (i) walk at higher intensities or (ii) walk at a high intensity for longer durations.
Hypothesis 2: Training at a higher intensity, or training at high intensity for longer durations, will result in increased serum BDNF.
Aim 2: Determine the effects of a soft robotic exosuit on gait biomechanics measured after a single bout of high intensity walking with versus without a soft robotic exosuit.
Hypothesis 3: A single bout of high intensity walking with an exosuit will lead to demonstrably better gait biomechanics than a single bout of high intensity exercise without an exosuit.
详细描述
Prior studies of the exosuit technology have culminated in strong evidence for the gait-restorative effects of soft robotic exosuits for patients post-stroke by means of substitution for impaired paretic limb function during walking. The present study builds on this work by suggesting that an exosuit's immediate gait-restorative effects can be leveraged during high intensity gait training to produce post-training improvements in gait quality. Indeed, current rehabilitation efforts are focused on either quality or intensity. They focus on gait quality by reducing the training intensity to allow patients to achieve a more normal gait. In contrast, efforts focused on training intensity push participants without regard for the quality of their movements. The investigators posit that exosuits can uniquely enable high intensity gait training that promotes quality of movements.
Acute bouts of high intensity exercise prior to skilled task practice have been shown to enhance motor learning in neurologically intact individuals. However, the impact of high intensity exercise on motor learning in clinical populations remains largely unknown. A major limitation to studying this relationship in survivors of stroke are challenges in achieving and maintaining high intensity exercise levels (>75% max HR) during gait training for durations that are comparable to neurologically intact individuals. Exercising at a lower intensity or for a shorter duration may result in insufficient neurological "priming" for motor learning that typically follows high intensity training-which would be evidenced in reduced production of activity-dependent markers of neuroplasticity (e.g., brain-derived neurotrophic factor; BDNF). For this study, the investigators will use standardized, maximal effort tests to evaluate the ability of a soft robotic exosuit to increase a patient's capacity for high intensity gait training. The investigators will also examine the resulting effect on BDNF and the relationship between training intensity, BDNF and motor learning measures.
研究设计
- 研究类型
- Interventional
- 分配方式
- Randomized
- 干预模型
- Crossover
- 主要目的
- Basic Science
- 盲法
- None
入排标准
- 年龄范围
- 18 Years 至 80 Years（Adult, Older Adult）
- 性别
- All
- 接受健康志愿者
- 否
入选标准
- •Diagnosis of stroke
- •Chronic phase of recovery (>6mo post-stroke) (self-report)
- •18-80 years old (self-report)
- •Independent ambulation (with or without an assistive device) for at least two minutes (confirmed at secondary screening visit)
- •Provide HIPAA Authorization to allow communication with the healthcare provider as needed during the study period
- •Medical clearance by the participant's physician
排除标准
- •Score of > 1 on question 1b and > 0 on question 1c on the NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS)
- •Inability to communicate
- •Unexplained dizziness in the last 6 months
- •Serious comorbidities that may interfere with the ability to participate in this research (for example: musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, pulmonary, and neurological - other than stroke)
- •Anemia (defined as hemoglobin levels of <13 g/dL for men and <12 g/dL for women)
- •Clotting disorders**
- •Have given blood to any other entity within 60 days prior to blood collection
- •History of significant Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)
- •Unresolved Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
- •Uncontrolled or untreated hypertension
- •Significant paretic ankle contractures (plantarflexion > 5°)
- •Psychiatric or cognitive impairments that may interfere with the proper operation of the device
- •Presence of open wounds or broken skin at device locations requiring medical management
- •Known urethane allergies
- •Pregnancy
- •Note: If the study team suspects neglect or hemianopia at any time during the course of the research, the physical therapist may administer the Star Cancellation Test (https://www.strokengine.ca/en/assess/sct/) for neglect or a visual field test (e.g., showing visual stimuli on different sides of the body) for hemianopia.
- •Note: We may enroll participants who do not have a clotting disorder, but who are on anti-clotting medications.
结局指标
主要结局
Concentration of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)
时间窗: Immediately after maximal effort exercise test.
A neurotrophic factor that is essential for learning and memory.
Forward Propulsion
时间窗: Immediately after maximal effort exercise test.
Forward propulsion refers to anterior component of the ground reaction forces that correspond to push-off subtask of the gait cycle.
VO2-Peak
时间窗: Last 30 seconds of maximal effort exercise test.
Average peak oxygen consumption rate.
Duration of high intensity exercise
时间窗: From the beginning to the end of the test, as determined based on standardized test termination criteria (e.g., volitional fatigue, cardiovascular abnormalities, or physical safety)
Seconds spent exercising at greater than or equal to 76% age-predicted heart rate maximum value.
次要结局
未报告次要终点