Transfemoral Osseointegrated Prosthesis Limb-Load Symmetry Training (TOPLOAD)

April 24, 2026 updated by: University of Colorado, Denver
This randomized controlled trial (n=25 enrolled, n=15 expected to complete) will 1) determine the feasibility of a 40-week limb-load biofeedback training intervention, 2) determine if there is an intervention signal of efficacy, and 3) identify functional movement priorities for people with transfemoral osseointegrated (OI) prostheses. A limb-load biofeedback training group (EXP (n=10)) will be compared to a standard of care attention-control group without limb-load biofeedback training (CTL (n=5)). Outcomes will be assessed at standard of care pre-habilitation end (Week 5), standard of care rehabilitation end (Week 24), and one year after OI Stage 2 surgery (Week 64).

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Active, not recruiting

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

This will be a randomized controlled trial with a limb-load biofeedback training (EXP) group and an attention control standard-of-care (CTL) group (2:1 allocation ratio). Outcomes will be assessed prior to surgery (Week 5), start of the limb-load biofeedback training (Week 24), and one year after surgery (Week 64). This Phase I clinical trial will be among the first randomized controlled rehabilitation trials for people with transfemoral OI prostheses. There is an immediate need to better understand the physical health benefits and factors that contribute to poor outcomes for this population. A critical step in developing rehabilitation guidelines is to identify optimal methods for people to regain active lifestyles, best use their prostheses, and avoid secondary comorbidities. This novel limb-load biofeedback training program will provide the empirical evidence necessary to inform post-OI rehabilitation regimens designed to optimize outcomes. Importantly, data from this trial will also guide intervention refinement as the investigators move toward a Phase II trial.

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 (Estimated)

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.
25

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 Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Colorado
      • Aurora, Colorado, United States, 80045
        • CU Physical Therapy

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

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Transfemoral unilateral amputation due to traumatic, congenital or cancer related causes
  • ≥ 18 years old
  • History of severe socket-related skin or residual limb problems
  • Schedule for OI prosthesis implantation surgery

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Vascular amputation etiology
  • Substance abuse
  • Unstable heart condition
  • Acute systemic infection
  • Cognitive impairment (Montreal Cognitive Assessment [MoCA] score <24)
  • Active cancer treatment

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: Double

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: Limb Load Biofeedback Training Intervention
The limb-load biofeedback training focuses on altering habitual movement patterns to promote proper prosthetic limb loading with an emphasis on between-limb loading symmetry. Participants randomized to the EXP group will receive 12 biofeedback training sessions (1 in-person, 11 telehealth) tapered over 40 weeks.
Behavioral: Limb Load Biofeedback Training Intervention
Loadsol data will be used to inform the EXP telehealth sessions, as the interventionist guides the participant to self-monitor their movement, problem solve movement patterns that promote asymmetrical limb loading, and create weekly action plans for improving limb load symmetry. Weekly goals will be made in the context of functional task progression over the 40-week intervention.
Placebo Comparator: Attention Control Intervention
The CTL group intervention will include the same standard of care rehabilitation sessions as the EXP group and receive the same computer tablets for telehealth sessions as the EXP group. The CTL group will also have attention control educational sessions at the same frequency, timing, and duration as the EXP group limb-load biofeedback sessions (12 total sessions) with the first session being an in-person session at the Week 24. There will be no biofeedback training intervention in the CTL group. As such, there will be no behavioral intervention or wearable sensors provided to the CTL group. The 12 sessions of EXP group limb-load biofeedback training sessions will be replaced by education-only session in the CTL group.
Other: Attention Control
The 12 sessions of EXP group limb-load biofeedback training sessions will be replaced by education-only session in the CTL group. The CTL group sessions will include a review of the standard of care home-exercises, a summary of healthcare visits and falls, and interventionist-delivered education on safety topics (e.g., fall prevention, wound care, assistive device use, home safety).

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
Measure Description
Time Frame
Intervention Feasibility
Time Frame: Week 64
Intervention feasibility is measured by retention rate, the percentage of people that complete the study. A score can range between 0 and 100 percent with 100 percent meaning all randomized participants completed the study.
Week 64
Intervention Participant Acceptability
Time Frame: Week 64
Acceptability of an intervention is the perception among stakeholders (e.g., patients and clinicians) that the intervention is agreeable or satisfactory. To measure participant acceptability, the investigators will use the Acceptability of Intervention Measure, a 30 four-item survey of stakeholder perception of intervention acceptability that asks participants to provide their approval as well as intervention appeal, likability, and agreeability. The scores range from 1 (completely disagree) to 5 (completely agree). The investigators expect the Acceptability of Intervention Measure score (average of the four items on a 1-5 scale) for the EXP group to be at least 4 (agree).
Week 64
Intervention Fidelity
Time Frame: Week 64
This will be evaluated based on whether EXP group interventionists deliver the intervention as planned and quantified in three ways: adherence, delivery quality, and patient engagement. The investigators will use the overall results of these three fidelity components to create a total score. Fidelity scores are reported as a percentage from 0 to 100 with 100 representing full fidelity. The investigators will consider >85% fidelity (average across all three components) to intervention delivery as a positive result.
Week 64
Change in Cumulative Loading
Time Frame: Week 5, Week 64
Free-living physical activity will be objectively monitored over a 10-day period using an activPAL micro accelerometer-based sensor (PAL Technologies, Glasgow, UK). Interlimb cumulative loading will be measured as a product of daily step count and ground reaction force impulse. Cumulative loading = (Daily Steps/2)*ground reaction force impulse.
Week 5, Week 64
Change in Multi-Domain Biomechanics during Tasks of Increasing Biomechanical Demand
Time Frame: Week 5, Week 64
Bilateral hip movement patterns (joint angles), muscle forces, and joint reaction forces will be calculated during functional tasks of increasing biomechanical demand (walking, sitting, stepping, turning) using a combination of motion capture and subject-specific musculoskeletal models. Whole-body motion capture will be collected from 70 reflective markers (Fs=120 Hz) (Vicon, Centennial, CO) with ground reaction forces simultaneously collected from six embedded force platforms (Fs=2,160 Hz) (Bertec, Columbus, OH). A subject-specific musculoskeletal model will be created using OpenSim software.
Week 5, Week 64

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
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in World Health Organization-Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0
Time Frame: Week 5, Week 24 and Week 64
Self reported questionnaire measuring disability in adults age 18 years and older. Final scores range from 0 (no disability) to 100 (full disability).
Week 5, Week 24 and Week 64
Change in Activities Specific Balance Confidence Scale
Time Frame: Week 5, Week 24 and Week 64
Self reported measure of balance confidence. Final scores range from 0% (no confidence in balance) to 100% (complete confidence in balance).
Week 5, Week 24 and Week 64
Change in Prosthetic Limb Users Survey of Mobility
Time Frame: Week 5, Week 24 and Week 64
A 12 item self report questionnaire measuring participants mobility when using a prosthesis. Final scores range from 12 to 60 points with higher scores indicating greater mobility.
Week 5, Week 24 and Week 64
Change in Patient Specific Function Scale
Time Frame: Week 5, Week 24 and Week 64
Self reported questionnaire measuring the ability of the participant to do 3 self identified activities. Scores of each of the 3 activities range from 0 (unable to perform) to 10 (able to perform without difficulty). Total scores range from 0 to 30 points, with higher scores indicating higher function.
Week 5, Week 24 and Week 64
Change in Self Selected Gait Speed
Time Frame: Week 5 and Week 64
Test to quantify walking ability as it is associated with health outcomes, fall risk, and mobility levels and is also a frequent indicator of intervention effectiveness. The time it takes each participant to walk 5-meters (after 3-meter acceleration zone, followed by 3-meter deceleration zone). The self selected gait speed will be averaged over three trials.
Week 5 and Week 64
Change in 30 Second Sit - Stand Test
Time Frame: Week 5, Week 64
Test to assess lower-extremity strength and endurance. The number of times the participant can rise from sitting in 30 seconds.
Week 5, Week 64
Change in Colorado Osseointegrated Limb Donning and Timed Up and Go Test
Time Frame: Week 5, Week 64
A specific test to measure physical function and balance. The time it takes a participant to don their prosthesis, rise from sitting, walk 10 feet and turn, walk back to the chair and return to seated position.
Week 5, Week 64

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.
University of Colorado, Denver

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
United States Department of Defense

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: Cory Christiansen, PT PHD, University of Colorado, Denver

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)

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.
January 30, 2023

Primary Completion (Estimated)

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.
January 31, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

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.
January 31, 2027

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).
January 5, 2023

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.
January 13, 2023

First Posted (Actual)

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.
January 25, 2023

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

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.
April 27, 2026

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.
April 24, 2026

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.
April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

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.
  • 22-2116
  • CDMRPOP220013 (Other Grant/Funding Number: Department of Defense)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

The investigators will publish the trial results data on the ClinicalTrials.gov website, on which the clinical trial will be registered. Sharing of data will include the potential of sharing raw data generated from all clinical assessments under a data-sharing agreement.

IPD Sharing Time Frame

The investigators will publish the trial results within one year of testing the final participant.

IPD Sharing Access Criteria

User registration will be required to access/download any data and will require agreement to conditions of use in accordance with CDMRP Policy on Sharing Data and Research Resources.

IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type

  • 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

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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