FNS and Weight Support Treadmill Training for Gait Component Restoration

Stroke Clinical Trial

Official title:

FNS and Weight Support Treadmill Training for Gait Component Restoration

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT00011596
• Other study ID #: B2226R
• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 2
• First received: February 22, 2001
• Last updated: January 20, 2009
• Start date: August 2000
• Est. completion date: August 2003

Study information

• Verified date: January 2001
• Source: VA Office of Research and Development
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Health authority: United States: Federal Government
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

To date, conventional rehabilitation is not able to restore normal, safe, gait for many individuals with stroke. We have identified nine gait component deficits which respond to the FNS-IM intervention. This study will test a refined treatment protocol of 3 months duration to restore volitional gait by restoring those nine gait components simultaneously. In addition, we will incorporate into the treatment protocol a promising non-invasive technique of partial body weight-supported (BWS) gait training on a treadmill. BWS and FNS-IM have the potential to provide additive effects for the patient and restore volitional gait more quickly and more completely than would otherwise be possible with one technique alone.

Description:

Stroke is the third leading cause of disability in the United States. To date, conventional rehabilitation is not able to restore normal, safe, gait for many individuals with stroke. We have identified nine gait component deficits which respond to the FNS-IM intervention. This study will test a refined treatment protocol of 3 months duration to restore volitional gait by restoring those nine gait components simultaneously. In addition, we will incorporate into the treatment protocol a promising non-invasive technique of partial body weight-supported (BWS) gait training on a treadmill. BWS and FNS-IM have the potential to provide additive effects for the patient and restore volitional gait more quickly and more completely than would otherwise be possible with one technique alone. Therefore, our first hypothesis is HYPOTHESIS I: BWS combined with FNS-IM, simultaneously applied to nine critical gait components, will restore volitional normal, safe gait to patients with chronic stroke within 3 months. An advantage of BWS gait training is that it is non-invasive. Consequently, we must demonstrate the additive advantage of FNS-IM technique alone. Therefore the second hypothesis is: HYPOTHESIS II: FNS-IM plus BWS will restore volitional gait more quickly and completely for patients with chronic stroke compared with BWS alone.

A total of thirty six chronic stroke patients will be randomly divided into two treatment groups (1) FNS-IM plus BWS; (2) BWS alone. Outcome measures for hypothesis testing will be threefold : 1) Gait normality (kinematics of nine gait components); 2) Safety (number of falls); 3) Functionality (gait speed, walking endurance, and CHART, a handicap measure of mobility and activity level). Data will be collected every four weeks during the three months of treatment. Maintenance of gains will be monitored at two additional data collections at six months and one year following the end of the treatment period. Results of this study have the potential to provide the following clinically applicable information:

1. For patients with stroke, a refined treatment protocol of 3 months duration for restoration of normal, safe, volitional gait which is practical within the current healthcare milieu. 2. A definitive recommendation regarding the most effective treatment for chronic stroke patients: (1) BWS plus FNS-IM or (2) BWS alone.

RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

1. Build stimulators and electrodes.

2. Obtain measures pre and post intervention for the two groups (FNS-IM + BWS; and BWS alone) to detect gains in: a) gait pattern; b) safety; c) functional capability; and d) quality of life.

3. Analyze data for the group receiving FNS-IM + BWS, in order to test

Hypothesis I.

4. Produce therapy protocols for FNS-IM and BWS intervention, and treatment progression.

5. Test Hypothesis II by comparing the two treatment groups (BWS vs BWS + FNS-IM).

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 36
• Est. completion date: August 2003
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: Both
• Age group: 18 Years and older
• Eligibility: Stroke patients

Study Design

Allocation: Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment, Masking: Open Label, Primary Purpose: Treatment

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Stroke

Intervention

Procedure:
• Gait Training

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United States	VAMC, Cleveland	Cleveland	Ohio

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
VA Office of Research and Development

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United States,