Robot-aided Proprioceptive Rehabilitation Training

Stroke Clinical Trial

Official title: Robot-aided Proprioceptive Rehabilitation Training With Additional Vibro-tactile Feedback

Status Completed

Clinical Trial Summary

This study investigates the effect of a robot-aided 2-day proprioceptive training of the wrist on the proprioceptive and motor function of the wrist/hand complex in patients with proprioceptive impairment. The wrist proprioceptive training consists of active movement training with augmented haptic and vibro-tactile feedback provided by a patented wrist robotic system (US Serial No. 62/136,065). This study protocol can be applied to a variety of clinical and non-clinical populations. The purpose of this study is to obtain preliminary data on the effectiveness of the proprioceptive training in subjects with cortical stroke or peripheral sensory neuropathy.

Clinical Trial Description

This protocol seeks to improve proprioceptive-motor function. Proprioception refers to the perception of limb position or motion and the orientation of one's body in space. Numerous medical conditions with motor symptoms are also associated with proprioceptive loss, such as osteoarthritis, Parkinson's disease, peripheral sensory neuropathy, stroke, and developmental coordination disorder.

However, therapies to improve proprioceptive function in these populations are either non-existent or very limited in scope although it is established that proprioceptive impairments severely degrade motor function. The proposed protocol focuses on proprioception for fine motor function of the hand/wrist joint complex, because hand/wrist motor control is highly important for activities of daily living.

The specific aims are to determine if a 2-day wrist proprioceptive training:

1. improves limb position sense acuity,

2. improves the spatial precision of wrist/hand motor tasks,

3. increases the efficiency of performing such motor tasks,

4. is associated with neural changes in cortical processing as measured by short-latency somatosensory evoke potentials (SEP) and motor evoked potentials (MEP) using transcranial magnetic stimulation.

The study follows a crossover design with two arms and two groups. Time frame for the completion of the study is up to 7 days depending on the start day of the week (Monday through Friday). No testing will occur on the weekend.

Group 1 will have the following time frame: Day 1: pre-test (approx. 3 hrs.) and training intervention (approx. 30 min.). Day 2: training intervention (approx. 30 min.) and post-test 1 (approx. 3 hrs.). Days 3-6: Usual care (min. of 2 days required). Days 5-7: Post-test 2 (depending on the start day of the week, it is either Day 5,6, or 7).

Group 2 will have the following time frame: Day 1: pre-test 1 (approx. 3 hrs.). Days 2-4:

Usual care (min. of 2 days required). Days 4-6: pre-test 2 (approx. 3 hrs.) and training intervention (approx. 30 min.). Days 5-7: Training intervention and post-test 1 (depending on the start day of the week, it is either Day 5,6, or 7). ;

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Peripheral Sensory Neuropathy
• Stroke

• NCT number: NCT02565407
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: University of Minnesota
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: October 2015
• Completion date: May 24, 2021