View clinical trials related to Acquired Brain Injury.
Filter by:This project is a continuing study from the FEATHERS project (NCT02290353) which focuses on developing novel home therapy program for persons with hemiparesis. This study will focus on examining motor behaviour and adaptation in neurodevelopmental hemiparesis (cerebral palsy, acquired brain injury (ABI)). New algorithms for motion control involved in encouraging active movement are developed and will be tested, but the study has the same therapeutic goal and focus as the original FEATHERS project of creating an engaging at-home bimanual upper limb training program. By incorporating existing gaming technology, we hope to discover novel ways to adapt commercial motion tracking controllers and visual feedback into engaging rehabilitative learning tools. This study will focus on a basic science aspect of human bimanual movements that can be incorporated into future applications of the full FEATHERS project devices. We believe that together these approaches will yield interventions that significantly improve functional ability and lead to improved quality of life.
The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of an animal assisted mindfulness intervention (AAMI) on patients with acquired brain injuries on their global severity of psychological distress. In addition, the effects on the patients' symptoms of depression, anxiety, perceived stress, mood, coping and mindfulness/self-compassion will be assessed. The study experimental condition consists of 6 weeks of intervention, containing 6 different modules. In every session, an animal will be present. In the control condition, the same program and same exercises will be used without the presence of or reference to animals. Sessions take place two times a week for 6 weeks (leading up to a total of 12 experimental/control sessions), each lasting for about 60 minutes. 24 participants are planned to be included, 12 patients in each group.
The purpose of this study is to compare a 4-week, moderately intensive, lab and home-based aerobic exercise program versus exercise plus cognitive training. Participants will include individuals who experience lingering symptoms of a head injury or concussion.
Many people with acquired brain injuries have deficits in reading decoding, reading comprehension, and written expression. Alexia is a phenomenon in which a person who previously could read has trouble doing so after having sustained a brain injury; likewise, agraphia is an acquired writing problem affecting one or more aspects of written communication. Alexia and agraphia sometimes co-occur with one another and/or with other language challenges, but they can also occur as isolated phenomena. Methods to treat alexia and agraphia often focus on single intervention techniques that address aspects of reading or writing in isolation-such as matching written and spoken letters or letter sounds, performing choral reading, tracing letters, etc. Existing research suggests that the effectiveness of these techniques is limited. However, when used in combination, such techniques may promote improved reading and written communication skills. As such, the purpose of this research is to determine the extent to which a multicomponent intervention program improves the reading and writing capabilities of people with acquired alexia and/or agraphia.
Background: Intensive Care Unit (ICU) survivors often develop an acquired weakness due to a Critical Illness Polyneuropathy (CIP). Early mobilization in ICU, by reducing the bed rest and decreasing the oxidative stress, was shown to represent a valid preventive option. Purpose: To evaluate whether ICU sessions of stepping verticalization associated with Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) of the lower limbs are able to reduce the occurrence of CIP in Acquired Brain Injured (ABI) patients. Methods: all the ABI patients admitted in our Neurorehabilitation Unit from our ICU were retrospectively evaluated. Patients affected by previous peripheral neuropathy, diabetes, cancer, alcoholism, viral hepatitis, AIDS and autoimmune diseases were excluded. They were divided into 3 groups according to the rehabilitation strategy received in ICU: group 1 received conventional physiotherapy + stepping verticalization sessions with Erigo® (Hocoma, Switzerland); group 2 received conventional physiotherapy + stepping verticalization sessions with FES using ErigoPro®; group 3 received only conventional physiotherapy. As for internal protocol, all patients started rehabilitation in the first week from the ABI and performed 60 minutes/day of rehabilitation, 5 days/week. Primary outcome was the evidence of CIP at Neurorehabilitation admission (=ICU discharge), according to neurophysiological criteria. Secondary outcomes were the strength impairment at Neurorehabilitation discharge, measured by the total Motricity Index score and the Functional Ambulation Classification (FAC) score, assessing quality of gait.
This study examines the effects of computerbased cognitive rehabilitation on executive functions in the chronic phase after acquired brain injury
Children with acquired and congenital brain lesions (namely, cerebral palsy, CP, and acquired brain injury, ABI) may exhibit upper limb impairment, with consequent limitations in their daily living activities. In recent years, robotic rehabilitation has become an important tool to promote functional recovery in patients with CP and ABI, thanks to its ability to promote high intensity, repetitive, engaging training. Moreover, it has additional advantages that can contribute to the understanding of the effectiveness of these devices in motor learning and recovery. It has indeed higher resolution and inter -rater and intra-rater reliability with respect to standard assessment methods (i.e. clinical scales). Furthermore, it is able to provide a quantitative evaluation of patients' movement during treatments instead of relying exclusively on qualitative observation. Recently, Merlo and co-workers (Sol et Salus, Rimini, Italy) developed and validated a tool to extract indices of accuracy, velocity and smoothness from the analysis of 3D trajectories of the end point of the robotic exoskeleton Armeo®Spring (Hocoma, CH). The primary aim of the study is to retrospectively investigate the effectiveness of robot-assisted upper limb rehabilitation in children affected by congenital and acquired brain damages by means of funcional scales and quantitative assessment of movement performance (accuracy, velocity and smoothness). Patients affected by acquired or congenital brain disease are enrolled. The inclusion criteria are: age between 5 and 18; the ability to handle objects in daily life within levels I, II, and III, according to the Manual Ability Classification System (MACS); the ability to understand and follow test instructions. Conversely, the exclusion criteria are: severe muscle contracture and/or spasticity, a diagnosis of severe learning disabilities or behavioral problems and visual or hearing difficulties that would impact on function and participation. Participants undergo the standard intervention protocol followed at the IRCCS E. Medea. It is composed by 20 sessions with Armeo®Spring and 20 sessions of physiotherapy, within 1 month. Patients are evaluated before (T0) and after (T1) the intervention with the Quality of Upper Extremities Skills Test (QUEST) and the Melbourne Assessment of Unilateral Upper Limb Function. During the first, tenth and last training session, patients executed the "Vertical Capture" exergame, which assess patient's functional level during a task that involves elbow flex-extension and shoulder flex- extension and abd-adduction. From these evaluation sessions, quantitative indices of movement performance (precision, velocity and smoothness) are extracted.
Most people with moderate or severe TBI have difficulty returning to their usual social roles and activities. The OBIA has developed a program where peers (other individuals living with TBI) coach or mentor those with more recent brain injury. The objective of this project is to evaluate the feasibility of measuring the impact of the OBIA Peer Program on social participation and mood compared to a control group who have not received peer support yet. The proposed study will involve three phases. It will begin with a qualitative component (stakeholder interviews), then a pilot RCT, and end with more interviews to explore the success of the study intervention. A qualitative descriptive approach will be used at these first and last phases of the study. In Phase 1, interviews will be conducted with approximately 15 participants including individuals with moderate to severe TBI, caregivers, Mentors, OBIA staff members, and health researchers. The proposed Phase 2 will be a clinical trial, conducted with 60 participants. These participants will be randomized to one of three groups: a twice a week Program (n=20), a once a week Program (n=20), or the wait list control group (n=20). For Phase 3, a sub group of approximately 25 participants from Phase 2 who participated in the OBIA Peer Support Program will be asked to participate in a one-on-one, telephone/Skype interview. A sub-group of Mentors will also be asked to participate in a one-on-one, telephone/Skype interview. This research project will address the highest priority areas of "strategies to enhance social participation and community life (personal relationships)" and "psychological strategies to improve mood, depression, and irritability", as identified in the ONF's Request for Proposals on "Addressing Evidence Gaps in Moderate to Severe TBI Rehabilitation". The study will provide important results to inform a RCT (of appropriate size) on the impact of peer support on the social participation and mood of individuals with moderate to severe TBI. This study will then provide the best evidence to support the recommendation on "a peer-supported relationship model of intervention", and inform future versions of the INESSS-ONF Guideline.
The purpose of this pilot feasibility study is to assess the feasibility of using the Playstation Xbox 360 and Rutgers V-step via a Kinect Sensor with active video game software as a part of a physical therapy intervention to improve obstacle negotiation, gait speed, and stair negotiation in ambulatory children with Cerebral Palsy (CP) hemiparesis or spastic diplegia, or non-progressive brain injury (BI). Children will be assessed using perceptual, balance, functional and gait assessments.
This study aims to explore autonomic cardiovascular regulation, through measures of heart rate variability (HRV), during different passive and active activities in patients with severe acquired brain injury and a low conscious state. Data from active rehabilitation will be compared with passive periods of rest as well as nightly variance during a continuous 5-day period.