NCT06160336

Transcutaneous Electrical Stimulation in Lower Limb Amputees

Use of Transcutaneous Electrical Stimulation for Restoring Somatotopic Sensory Feedback in Lower Limb Amputees

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 13 (actual)
• Sponsor: Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi Onlus · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 80 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Current lower limb prostheses support ambulation by absorbing and stabilizing positions during walking. Users of lower limb prostheses rely solely on sensory information provided by the contact between the socket and the residual limb. Restoring sensory feedback could potentially improve their quality of life and participation in daily activities. Despite a high incidence of lower limb amputations, there are few studies in the literature addressing the restoration of sensory feedback in lower limb amputees, particularly studies utilizing invasive techniques. In an effort to overcome these limitations, various non-invasive methods have been tested. Despite resulting benefits such as improved gait symmetry and stability, most non-invasive stimulation systems are non-somatotopic, failing to generate a sensation referred to the patient's missing limb. From the literature, Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) emerges as a very promising non-invasive and somatotopically-based sensory feedback approach, capable of inducing sensations referred to the amputees' phantom limb. Therefore, the proposed study will involve the use of TENS as a means to stimulate sensitivity and prevent perceptual disturbances associated with the interruption of peripheral nerve structures occurring in individuals undergoing amputation. These disturbances, besides influencing the development of symptoms characterized by neuropathic pain, can impact prosthesis management.

Conditions

• Lower Limb Amputation

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation	Phase 1: Participants undergo a comprehensive assessment in a single experimental session (mapping session) aimed at mapping the regions and sensations that can be electrically stimulated. This mapping protocol is conducted on both the intact and amputated limbs. Phase 2: This phase comprises a 4-week experimental protocol, including: 1. four mapping sessions conducted at the onset of each week, where the protocol is randomly applied to the participant's intact and amputated limb. 2. three stimulation sessions held over three consecutive days in the initial week to assess the participant's ability to discern stimuli of varying intensities. 3. ten sessions utilizing an end-effector gait rehabilitation robot, aiming to train the participant in walking using the proposed sensory feedback restoration system based on TENS under controlled and repeatable experimental conditions.

Timeline

• Start date: 2021-03-14
• Primary completion: 2023-08-04
• Completion: 2023-08-04
• First posted: 2023-12-07
• Last updated: 2023-12-13

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Italy