Gait Mate: Examining Neural Networks Engaged During Lower Extremity Movement in the MRI

September 17, 2024 updated by: Medical University of South Carolina
Less than 50% of stroke survivors progress to independent community ambulation. Even among the stroke survivors who achieve independent ambulation, significant residual deficits persist in balance and gait speed, with 60% of persons post-stroke reporting limitations in mobility related to walking.Consequently maximizing recovery of locomotor function is the focus of neurorehabilitation efforts worldwide. A recently completed clinical trial from members of this investigative team demonstrated that 6 weeks of treadmill training elicits substantial improvements in over ground walking speed and symmetry in persons following stroke. Consistent with the goals of the South Carolina Stroke Rehabilitation Research Center (SCSRRC) and NIH Brain Initiative, the investigators now plan to investigate the effects treadmill-assisted gait training have on cortical control of bipedal movement in chronic stroke patients. Although previous investigators have assessed neural activity during simulated walking using motor imagery, motor imagery does not simulate the typical sensory feedback associated with active movement. To move the field forward, it is necessary to measure active bipedal movement in the MR-environment in healthy volunteers, before moving forward in stroke patients.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

The overarching goal of this Discovery Proposal is to evaluate neural activity during unipedal and bipedal movement in a cohort of healthy individuals (Aim 1).

The rigor and reproducibility will be evaluated by comparing the results of 1) active movement -Bipedal with 2) active movement -unipedal 4 and 3) imagined movement.

Dependent measures include: 1) head motion during the fMRI task, 2) BOLD signal in the ipsilateral and contralateral motor cortex during the fMRI task, 3) force applied during the fMRI task, and 4) participant feedback using a modified version of the Presence Questionnaire (a standard tool to assess ecological validity of virtual environments.

Each Aim has a development and evaluation aspect. Through this 1 year proposal the investigators will determine if the bipedal fMRI protocol (active movement) is able to engage neural networks more robustly (e.g. greater effect size) than bipedal imagery alone in Healthy Volunteers.

Specific Aim #1: Healthy volunteers: The investigators will test the hypothesis that with active bipedal movement there will be 1) no difference in head movement, but 2) greater motor cortex BOLD signal, 3) smoother force exchange between the feet, 4) higher participant satisfaction than unipedal movement or motor imagery alone. This sample size was selected based on a prior publication of imagined movement. The outcome of this aim may result in the first publication in the field to evaluate bipedal movement in an MR-environment.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Actual)

21

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

    • South Carolina
      • Charleston, South Carolina, United States, 29425
        • Medical University of South Carolina

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

Ages Eligible for Study

21 years to 65 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Healthy volunteers will be screened for eligibility who are right hand dominant.

Description

Inclusion criteria:

  • Age 21-65
  • Right hand dominant
  • Able to read and understand questionnaires and informed consent

Exclusion criteria:

  • Self reported history of cardiac disease, COPD or oxygen dependence, neurological and psychiatric disorders, dementia or previous stroke, major head trauma, severe visual impairment, osteoarthritis, orthopedic problems that limit passive range of motion, illegal drug or alcohol dependence, claustrophobia
  • Non-mri compatible metal implants in the body
  • Pregnant females

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

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Intervention / Treatment
GAITRite assessment
Subjects will undergo the GAITRite assessment of functional walking and then complete the Functional MRI Bipedal paradigm followed by questionnaires and assessments regarding the virtual environment.
The fMRI Bipedal Paradigm will allow investigators to study the effects treadmill-assisted gait training have on cortical control of bipedal movement in chronic stroke patients.
Other Names:
  • fMRI Bipedal Paradigm

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
fMRI protocols will measure neural function activity during active bipedal movement in healthy volunteers
Time Frame: Duration of the study, approximately 1 year
Determine if the bipedal fMRI protocol (active movement) is able to engage neural networks more robustly (e.g. greater effect size) than bipedal imagery alone in healthy volunteers.
Duration of the study, approximately 1 year

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Collaborators

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Colleen A Hanlon, PhD, Medical University of South Carolina

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 (Actual)

February 1, 2018

Primary Completion (Actual)

June 14, 2019

Study Completion (Actual)

June 14, 2019

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

June 28, 2018

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 19, 2018

First Posted (Actual)

July 27, 2018

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

September 19, 2024

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 17, 2024

Last Verified

September 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 72777

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

The data from the primary outcome measurement will be shared via manuscripts and after study completion by request to the Principal Investigator.

IPD Sharing Time Frame

The data will be available immediately after first publication of the results. This is estimated to be at the end of 2019.

IPD Sharing Access Criteria

Interested parties should contact the Principal Investigator directly

IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type

  • STUDY_PROTOCOL
  • SAP
  • ICF

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

Yes

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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