Evaluation of a Novel Gait Training Device to Support Body Weight

Stroke Clinical Trial

Official title: Evaluation of a Novel Gait Training Device Using a Pressurized Lower Body Suit to Support Body Weight

Status Not yet recruiting

Clinical Trial Summary

A novel body weight support device that uses pressurized pants may provide advantages in delivering gait therapy. The objectives of this study are to test the following hypotheses that 1) the novel device will allow for increased body weight support while improving or maintaining the same level of patient comfort; 2) the novel device will yield greater patient satisfaction with gait therapy relative to current harness systems; 3) therapists will be more satisfied with the use of the novel device relative to current harness systems; 4) the use of the novel device will require less total therapist time than a harness comparator; 5) the use of the novel device will increase therapeutic treatment time when compared with current harness systems.

Clinical Trial Description

This is a single group repeated measures ABAB design. The study will include four sessions for each participant, with two sessions conducted using a novel Lite Run Gait Trainer device (Lite Run, Inc., Minneapolis, MN) and two sessions conducted using the comparator method of choice by the physical therapist (harness system). The initial condition (harness or Lite Run) will be randomized. The overall gait training physical therapy session will follow standard of care; the only factor that will change will be the assistive device used during therapy (harness or Lite Run).

Participants will include 10 VA inpatients receiving physical therapy at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System (MVAHCS). Patients will be recruited from three VA rehabilitation units: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R), Spinal Cord Injury and Disease (SCI/D) Center, and Community Living Center (CLC). Participants will have a range of diagnoses: stroke, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, wounds, obesity.

The number of therapists and their time involvement will be tracked as a primary outcome measure in this study. The effectiveness of treatment will also be assessed for both assistive device methods. The total amount of therapeutic treatment time will be measured as the time spent by the patient in an upright position. At the end of each therapy session, participants will also be asked to rate their pain (comfort), perceived level of exertion, and will fill out a questionnaire about their experience with the Lite Run Gait Trainer. The physical therapists involved in the study will also provide their feedback. ;

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Body Weight
• Brain Injuries
• Brain Injuries, Traumatic
• Gait Disorders, Neurologic
• Nervous System Diseases
• Spinal Cord Injuries
• Stroke
• Wounds and Injuries

• NCT number: NCT03171207
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: Lite Run Inc.
• Contact: John Hauck, MSEE
• Phone: 651 336 7405
• Email: john@literun.com
• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: June 2017
• Completion date: September 2017