View clinical trials related to Neuromuscular Diseases.
Filter by:The aim of this study is to determine whether respiratory disease exacerbations (a sudden worsening of symptoms) can be predicted by variables that are monitored by non-invasive ventilators (small machines that assist breathing) in patients requiring long term home ventilation. The investigators hypothesise that acute exacerbations of patients with respiratory disease and ventilatory failure will be predicted by changes in the respiratory variables monitored and stored by ventilators during chronic home ventilator use.
The purpose of this current prospective study is to assess the effects of a Therapeutic Riding exercise program conducted in patients suffering from neuromuscular disease. The exercise intervention aims at improving gross motor function, gross motor performance, balance, spasticity, posture and quality of life. Patients were randomized according to age, sex, mental ability and gross motor function. Furthermore, patients will be subdivided into categories of central nervous system (brain/ spinal cord) and peripheral (peripheral nerve or muscle) diseases. The exercise program duration will be 12 weeks, once a week with 30-40 minutes sessions. Six measurements will be conducted: the Gross Motor Function Measure, the Gross Motor Performance Measure, the Quality of life Questionnaire for Children, the Pediatric Balance Scale, the dynamic plate in combination with x-ray for posture control, the Modified Ashworth Scale for spasticity and the Wisc 3 for mental ability. The results will be collected and evaluated using the statistical programme SPSS.
Validation of a measure specifically suitable to evaluate the residual function of upper limbs of non-ambulant neuromuscular patients, especially with Duchenne muscular dystrophy and spinal muscular atrophy. This approach is of fundamental importance for clinical monitoring and preparing the future therapeutic trials.
Neuromuscular disorders can be associated with swallowing dysfunction secondary to a dysfunction of the airway muscles involved in swallowing. The investigators have shown that respiratory failure may contribute to swallowing dysfunction in patients with neuromuscular respiratory failure. Furthermore, although tracheostomy has been reported as impairing swallowing, the investigators have shown that when a tracheostomy is performed in neuromuscular patients, swallowing improves because it allows the patient to feed while ventilated. The investigators now want to evaluate whether non invasive ventilation may have a beneficial impact on swallowing by making some adjustments to ensure a good synchronisation between ventilation and swallowing. This could allow avoiding the necessity of a tracheostomy or a gastrostomy due to swallowing dysfunction and/or malnutrition in neuromuscular patients. Swallowing improvement under mechanical ventilation depends on improving the synchronisation between the patient and the ventilator during swallowing. For that purpose, the investigators developed a prototype ventilator able to temporarily suspend pressurisation under the patient's control so that when the patient needs to swallow under mechanical ventilation he may do so with an inadequate insufflation of the ventilator. Our objective is to to demonstrate that swallowing is more adapted and easier under nasal noninvasive ventilation than during spontaneous breathing in neuromuscular patients requiring prolonged noninvasive ventilation. In an open monocentric pilot study, the investigators will study 10 neuromuscular patients usually noninvasively ventilated. The patients will be their own control and their swallow will be studied during spontaneous breathing and under ventilation with the adapted ventilator while swallowing boluses of different volumes.
Inefficient cough is responsible of respiratory complications in neuromuscular patients which can lead to hospitalisation and can be life threatening. Techniques enhancing cough efficiency are successful in improving the clearance of bronchial secretions and help non invasive ventilation efficiency especially in case of acute respiratory failure. Combining mechanical exsufflation to the manual techniques of physiotherapy might enhance efficiency. Therefore the investigators want to compare cough efficiency under different techniques of instrumental and manual of cough assistance in order to determine the best combination to optimize cough flow.
The purpose of this study is to collect biofluid samples for the banking and usage in ALS research. Through comparison of these samples, the researchers hope to learn more about the underlying cause of ALS, as well as find unique biological markers, which could be used to develop new therapies.
Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) is a form of ventilation delivered by a mask and is an important mode of treatment in patients with both acute and chronic respiratory (breathing) failure. Humidification is widely accepted as an essential part of the ventilation strategy in patients receiving invasive ventilation (i.e. via a tube inserted into the mouth), but its role during NIV use is not proven. Consequently, there is a variation in practice with regard to humidification during NIV. Humidification is important in maintaining upper and lower airway mucosal function and patients requiring NIV often report symptoms, such as throat dryness, due to a lack of airway humidity. Success of NIV in the acute setting is dependent on many factors including, patient tolerance of NIV during the acute phase. In patients with chronic obstructive airways disease (COPD), poor tolerance results in NIV failure, which necessitates endotracheal intubation or treatment failure. Furthermore, invasive ventilation increases the risk of a hospital acquired pneumonia, which is associated with a worse outcome. In the long term setting of NIV use, again patients frequently report symptoms due to drying of the airways and adherence to NIV can be highly variable. Adherence in these patients is important in improving both quality and length of life. Humidification devices may be technically effective, but clinicians have concerns regarding potential negative effects of these devices. There is a requirement to evaluate the use of humidification in both the acute and long term use of NIV, particular, in terms of patient ventilator interaction, which will impact on comfort and adherence to NIV. This will effect the overall effectiveness of ventilation. The investigators propose a randomised controlled trial to investigate the effects of a humidification system during noninvasive ventilation.
To evaluate a novel advanced physiological monitoring system to improve nocturnal non-invasive ventilation (NIV) in Neuromuscular disease (NMD), Chest wall disease (CWD), Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome (OHS) patients. By enhancing sleep comfort, adherence to ventilation will increase which, in turn, will improve ventilatory failure, quality of life and reduce length of admission during initiation of therapy. We aim to incorporate this technology into routine clinical practice.
The purpose of this study is to determine if adding hippotherapy treatment will improve balance for children ages 5-17 who have disabilities such as cerebral palsy and down syndrome. We also want to find out if by improving their balance the children increase their participation in age appropriate activities.
This study is being conducted to test whether exercise can be effectively used as an intervention to treat Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). In order to answer this question, the investigators will enroll 14 subjects with SMA between ages 8 and 50 and ask them to complete an 18 month training schedule. At some points subjects will be asked to closely follow a specific training regimen and at other points they may be asked to exercise in the same manner they do normally. The exercises they will be asked to perform include biking on a stationary cycle and lifting hand weights. Subjects will be asked to come in to the clinic seven times over the course of the study to perform tests. These tests include motor function measures, a physical exam, questionnaires, a exercise capacity test which involves riding a stationary bicycle, and test where the subject is asked to walk as far as they can in six minutes. The main goal of the study is to see if the subjects who participate in the exercise protocol have larger increases in the distance they can walk in six minutes than those who do not.