Arm Robotics in Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation

Upper Extremity Robotics in Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation

This purpose of this study is to determine the outcomes of the first-known application of robotic therapy in the rehabilitation following rotator cuff repair, using a novel vertical oblique robotic module.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Rotator Cuff Tear
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: Robotic Therapy

Detailed Description

Musculoskeletal conditions are a leading cause of disability in the United States accounting for more than 130 million patient visits to healthcare providers annually. Rotator cuff tears are one of the most common causes of pain and disability of the upper extremity. Impaired motor control of the shoulder girdle muscles with concomitant instability often exists prior to any surgical procedure. Re-tears and/or attenuation after rotator cuff repairs occur relatively frequently and may compromise the functional result. Loading of the UE during rehabilitation, thus the repair site, following the surgical procedure has been implicated in these complications Conventional shoulder rehabilitation protocols with the human-human interface do not possess the ability to systematically quantify dosing and progression for patients in the subacute stages thus, potentially overloading the repair site. No evidence-based research exists comparing outcomes of specific rehabilitative training protocols in these post-surgical patients. Consensus statements conclude, �a need for clinical trials, and validated outcome measures is essential�.

Advances in robotics technology offer unprecedented opportunities to improve rehabilitation pathways, but until now these technologies have focused primarily on neurological disease. The MIT Newman Laboratory for Biomechanics and Human Rehabilitation upper extremity (UE) robot is an impedance controlled, back-drivable, oblique-vertical vertical robot that has been designed such that it can safely exert controlled, graded forces to move or guide a limb, functioning in passive, active-assistive, active and resistive modes, providing objective data on the motion. A major advantage is its capacity for real-time, graded changes based on patient input, providing stability against random perturbations, increasing or withdrawing assistance and allowing for dose-specific treatment. The vertical robot device has been shown to be safe and well tolerated without any adverse effects such as shoulder pain.

Goal-directed, quantifiable rehabilitation protocols for redevelopment of function through improved range of motion, strength and motor control are lacking in patients with musculoskeletal impairments. The successful robotic-assisted rehabilitation of the acute and chronic, severe impairment provides an impetus for applying this technology to UE musculoskeletal impairments. The ability to objectively control and measure the dosing and progression during the rehabilitation process is a valuable tool in the advancement of evidence�based rehabilitation interventions The proposed pilot clinical trial will determine if 8-weeks of robotic rehabilitation improves the rate and quality of recovery of range of motion, strength, and function following rotator cuff repair compared with a conventional physical therapy rehabilitation protocol.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 20
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Maryland
    • Baltimore, Maryland, United States, 21201
      • VA Maryland Health Care System, Baltimore

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 40 years to 65 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. aged 40-65 years
2. Surgeon referral with medical clearance;
3. <3 weeks post-arthroscopic rotator cuff repair
4. Rotator cuff tear size <5cm;
5. Surgeon reported good tendon tissue health status
6. Adequate cognition and language skills to provide informed consent and participate in robotics training and/or robotics testing.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Age <39, or >65 years
2. Rotator cuff tear >5cm
3. Surgical finding of poor tendon tissue status
4. Open surgical procedure;
5. Rotator cuff revision procedure
6. Worker's compensation injury
7. History of neuro-motor disease of the upper extremities.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Other: 1	Device: Robotic Therapy

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: US Department of Veterans Affairs
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Margaret Finley, PhD, VA Maryland Health Care System, Baltimore

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: July 1, 2005
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 1, 2007
• Study Completion (Actual): December 1, 2007

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 10, 2006
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 10, 2006
• First Posted (Estimate): January 11, 2006

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): March 11, 2008
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 10, 2008
• Last Verified: March 1, 2008

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Rotator cuff; cuff, rotator
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Wounds and Injuries; Rupture; Shoulder Injuries; Tendon Injuries; Rotator Cuff Injuries
• Other Study ID Numbers: B3827V