Mechanized Gait Trainer Combine Transcranial Galvanic Stimulation (tDCS) in Chronic Stroke (GT-1-tDCS)

March 23, 2012 updated by: Nicola Smania, MD, Universita di Verona

Combine Mechanized Gait Trainer and Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Chronic Stroke Patients: Randomized Control Trial

Transcranial galvanic stimulation (tDCS), seems to promote motor recovery after stroke by stimulating (anodal) or inhibiting (cathodal) neural circuits in the brain. In the treatment of severe lower limb paresis after stroke, the GangTrainer GT1 (GT) proved to be effective, but nevertheless only a few patients could use their affect lower limb functionally in daily life on deambulation after robot training. Therefore the present study intends to combine both approaches, tDCS + GT, apply at the same time every day for two weeks in order to improve the effectiveness of GangTrainer therapy in the gait rehabilitation.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Transcranial galvanic stimulation (tDCS), seems to promote motor recovery after stroke by stimulating (anodal) or inhibiting (cathodal) neural circuits in the brain. In the treatment of severe lower limb paresis after stroke, the GangTrainer GT1 (GT) proved to be effective. Therefore the present study intends to combine both approaches, tDCS + GT, apply at the same time every day for two weeks in order to improve the effectiveness of GangTrainer therapy in the gait rehabilitation. The rehabilitation programme are compose 3 kinds of locomotor training interventions (experimental group, control group 1 and control group 2).

During intervention experimental group, patients receive a total of 10 treatments of repetitive locomotor training with electromechanical gait device (duration 30 min) + tDCS (duration first 7 min) with the anodal electrode is place over the presumed lower limb area of the lesioned hemisphere, and the cathodal electrode is place above the controlateral orbital. The anodal stimulation is expected to facilitate the activity of the lower limb motor area side directly, while the cathodal stimulation of the non-lesioned hemisphere is expected to facilitate the lesioned side indirectly by decreasing inhibitory inputs. The control group 1 receive a total of 10 treatments with only GT (duration 30 min) with sham-stimulation, and the control group 2 receive a total of 10 treatments with convectional physiotherapy

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
30

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Italy
    • Italy, Verona
      • Verona, Italy, Verona, Italy, 37134
        • Azienta Ospedaliera, SSO Rehabilitation Unit, Verona

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

20 years to 80 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • European Stroke scale between 75-85
  • First time supratentorial, ischaemic or hemorrhagic stroke.
  • Diagnosis of ischemic brain injury or intracerebral hemorrhage by MRI or computed tomography > 6 months after the onset of stroke.
  • Age < 80 years.
  • Ability to stand upright, supported or unsupported, for 1 minute.
  • Patients with ischaemic or haemorrhagic stroke.
  • In-patient participating in a comprehensive rehabilitation programme.
  • patients written informed consent of participation in the study approved by the local ethical committee.
  • absence of cardiac, psychological and orthopedic conditions that might interfere with the result.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Preceding epileptic fits.
  • an EEG suspect of elevated cortical excitability.
  • a sensitive scalp skin.
  • severe cognitive impairment.
  • metallic implants within the brain.
  • previous brain neurosurgery.
  • medications altering the level of cortical excitability
  • medications with a presumed positive or negative effect on brain plasticity.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Triple

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: GangTrainer and tDCS
The experimental group patients receive a total of 10 treatments of repetitive locomotor training with electromechanical gait device (duration 30 min) + tDCS (duration first 7 min) with the anodal electrode is place over the presumed lower limb area of the lesioned hemisphere, and the cathodal electrode is place above the controlateral orbital.
Device: GangTrainer and tDCS
The experimental group patients receive a total of 10 treatments of repetitive locomotor training with electromechanical gait device (duration 30 min) + tDCS (duration first 7 min) with the anodal electrode is place over the presumed lower limb area of the lesioned hemisphere, and the cathodal electrode is place above the controlateral orbital.
Sham Comparator: control group1
The control group 1 receive a total of 10 treatments with only GT (duration 30 min) with sham-stimulation.
Device: control group1
The control group 1 receive a total of 10 treatments with only GT (duration 30 min) with sham-stimulation.
Other Names:
  • GangTrainerGT1
Active Comparator: control group2
The control group 2 receive a total of 10 treatments with convectional physiotherapy.
Other: Control group2
The control group 2 receive a total of 10 treatments with convectional physiotherapy.
Other Names:
  • convectional physiotherapy

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Motricity Index
Time Frame: All patients enrolled in the study will be evaluated before the beginning (baseline time 0) of treatment and after the end (after 6 weeks) of the treatment.
All patients enrolled in the study will be evaluated before the beginning (baseline time 0) of treatment and after the end (after 6 weeks) of the treatment.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Barthel Index
Time Frame: All patients enrolled in the study will be evaluated before the beginning (baseline time 0) of treatment, after the end (after 6 weeks) of the treatment and at 1 month FU
All patients enrolled in the study will be evaluated before the beginning (baseline time 0) of treatment, after the end (after 6 weeks) of the treatment and at 1 month FU
European Stroke Scale
Time Frame: All patients enrolled in the study will be evaluated before the beginning (baseline time 0) of treatment, after the end (after 6 weeks) of the treatment and at 1 month FU
All patients enrolled in the study will be evaluated before the beginning (baseline time 0) of treatment, after the end (after 6 weeks) of the treatment and at 1 month FU
Modified Ashworth Scale
Time Frame: All patients enrolled in the study will be evaluated before the beginning (baseline time 0) of treatment, after the end (after 6 weeks) of the treatment and at 1 month FU
All patients enrolled in the study will be evaluated before the beginning (baseline time 0) of treatment, after the end (after 6 weeks) of the treatment and at 1 month FU
Questionary of Ambulation
Time Frame: All patients enrolled in the study will be evaluated before the beginning (baseline time 0) of treatment, after the end (after 6 weeks) of the treatment and at 1 month FU
All patients enrolled in the study will be evaluated before the beginning (baseline time 0) of treatment, after the end (after 6 weeks) of the treatment and at 1 month FU
Rivermead Motor Assessment Score
Time Frame: All patients enrolled in the study will be evaluated before the beginning (baseline time 0) of treatment, after the end (after 6 weeks) of the treatment and at 1 month FU
All patients enrolled in the study will be evaluated before the beginning (baseline time 0) of treatment, after the end (after 6 weeks) of the treatment and at 1 month FU
Functional Ambulation Category
Time Frame: All patients enrolled in the study will be evaluated before the beginning (baseline time 0) of treatment, after the end (after 6 weeks) of the treatment and at 1 month FU
All patients enrolled in the study will be evaluated before the beginning (baseline time 0) of treatment, after the end (after 6 weeks) of the treatment and at 1 month FU
Ten Meters Walking Test
Time Frame: All patients enrolled in the study will be evaluated before the beginning (baseline time 0) of treatment, after the end (after 6 weeks) of the treatment and at 1 month FU
All patients enrolled in the study will be evaluated before the beginning (baseline time 0) of treatment, after the end (after 6 weeks) of the treatment and at 1 month FU
Six Minutes Walking Test
Time Frame: All patients enrolled in the study will be evaluated before the beginning (baseline time 0) of treatment, after the end (after 6 weeks) of the treatment and at 1 month FU
All patients enrolled in the study will be evaluated before the beginning (baseline time 0) of treatment, after the end (after 6 weeks) of the treatment and at 1 month FU
Spatia-temporal Gait analysis
Time Frame: All patients enrolled in the study will be evaluated before the beginning (baseline time 0) of treatment, after the end (after 6 weeks) of the treatment and at 1 month FU
All patients enrolled in the study will be evaluated before the beginning (baseline time 0) of treatment, after the end (after 6 weeks) of the treatment and at 1 month FU
Motricity Index
Time Frame: All patients enrolled in the study will be evaluated before the beginning (baseline time 0) of treatment, after the end (after 6 weeks) of the treatment and at 1 month FU
All patients enrolled in the study will be evaluated before the beginning (baseline time 0) of treatment, after the end (after 6 weeks) of the treatment and at 1 month FU

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Universita di Verona

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Nicola Smania Nicola Smania, Doctor

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
July 1, 2010

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
October 1, 2010

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
October 1, 2010

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
December 28, 2009

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
December 28, 2009

First Posted (Estimate)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
December 29, 2009

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
March 26, 2012

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
March 23, 2012

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
March 1, 2012

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • GT-1-tDCS

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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