NCT02990650

Outcomes Associated With Progressive Balance And Gait Training Using The KineAssist® Robot

• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 1
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 36 (actual)
• Sponsor: University of Alabama at Birmingham · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 21 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Using a randomized controlled research design, compare walking outcomes resulting from gait and balance training with standard physical therapist interaction versus training with the addition of a KineAssist® robotic system that provides for safety and freedom of movement.

Detailed description

Several studies have investigated the use of balance and gait training and have demonstrated significant improvements in walking speed with trained stroke survivors. The inherent risks associated with balance and gait training requires the therapist to be vigilant with providing safety and support during challenging tasks. As a result, consumers are not challenged to their furthest limits and therapists put an inordinate amount of physical effort into safety control. KineAssist® Design, LLC in collaboration with Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, developed the KineAssist® Balance and Gait Training System (KineAssist®). The KineAssist® is a novel device that allows full freedom of motion for the trunk and pelvis during gait and balance tasks, with additional postural control to enhance balance stability. These functions are available while the device follows the individual overground with minimal interference. The availability of postural control during complex and omnidirectional movement tasks allows the clinician to guarantee consumer safety and body weight support while at the same time provide graded task challenges to the fullest limits of the consumers capabilities. This KineAssist® is revolutionary in that it is the first device that is fully interactive and responsive to the movements and intentions of both the consumer and the therapist during overground challenging balance and gait activities. Accordingly, the long-term objective of this research is to test the efficacy of robotically enhanced, progressive gait and balance training for improving walking outcomes post-stroke. The following two aims are designed to test whether the KineAssist® provides a more challenging training environment than is typical with physical therapy, and then compares walking outcomes as a result of long-term (6 weeks) training. Aim: Using a randomized controlled research design, compare walking outcomes resulting from gait and balance training with standard physical therapist interaction versus training with the addition of a KineAssist®t. Overall, these studies are an important advance for the development of effective clinical interventions for individuals with impaired locomotor ability post-stroke. This study will provide critical information on physiological effects and clinical outcomes and provide important evidence for the use of this new class of robotic technology that accommodates both the clinician and the consumer in stroke rehabilitation.

Conditions

• Cerebrovascular Accident

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Balance Task Training with therapist guarding support	Nine balance tasks: 1. long forward step 2. forward reach 3. push forward 4. push backward 5. step over hurdle 6. step up on foam surface 7. step up on solid surface 8. sit-to-stand 9. step onto slippery surface The therapist will provide guarding support
BEHAVIORAL	Balance task training with robotic guarding support	Nine balance tasks: 1. long forward step 2. forward reach 3. push forward 4. push backward 5. step over hurdle 6. step up on foam surface 7. step up on solid surface 8. sit-to-stand 9. step onto slippery surface The guarding support will be provided by a robot
BEHAVIORAL	Challneged balance task training with robotic guarding support	Nine balance tasks where the subject is challenged to perform at a harder level of difficulty: 1. long forward step 2. forward reach 3. push forward 4. push backward 5. step over hurdle 6. step up on foam surface 7. step up on solid surface 8. sit-to-stand 9. step onto slippery surface The guarding support will be provided by a robot

Timeline

• Start date: 2008-10-01
• Primary completion: 2013-09-01
• First posted: 2016-12-13
• Last updated: 2017-01-19

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States