Motor Adaptation by Error Augmentation Force Field in Healthy Peoples' Upper Extremity

Motor Adaptation by Error Augmentation Force Field in Healthy Peoples' Upper Extremity, a Randomized Controlled Trial

Inducing a systematic perturbation forces on the hand during arm reaching movement may improve adaptation. Error-augmentation (EA) training is relatively new concept in motor learning intended to promote the adaptation process. In this study participants will practice one session of training on 3D robotic device. Healthy volunteers will be randomly divided into two groups: study and control. The study group will carry out the training session with EA forces. The control group will carry out the same procedure with null force field. Outcome measure are the average size of trajectory error from the straight line and level of exertion (borg scale).

Study Overview

• Status: Unknown
• Conditions: Healthy Volunteers
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Error enhancement; Other: Control group

Detailed Description

A single process involved in motor learning is adaptation. Hand reaching movement has been extensively used to evaluate the concept of motor adaptation. By inducing a systematic perturbation on the hand, it is possible to examine the implicit motor response on the trajectory of the hand. Error-augmentation (EA) training is relatively new concept in motor learning intended to promote the adaptation process. Applying these perturbating forces on the hand shift the hand trajectory form the straight line to a curve like shape. Making repetitive movement under the same conditions will results in a gradual correction of this faulty movement trajectory toward the straight line, e.g. motor adaptation.

Participants: Healthy volunteers, aged 20-50, males and females. The participants will be randomly assigned into two groups: study or control group.

Procedure: One practice session of 25 minutes on 3D robotic device. The study group will carry out the session with EA forces. The control group will carry out the same training without the EA forces.

Outcome Measures: Size of trajectory error from the straight line, level of exertion.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 40
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Sharon Israley, MSc.; Phone Number: 972-523-755-091; Email: sharonis@mh.org.il
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Eli Carmeli, PhD.; Email: ecarmeli@univ.haifa.ac.il

Study Locations

• Israel
  • Haifa, Israel
    • Recruiting
    • University of Haifa
    • Contact: Eli Carmeli, PhD; Phone Number: 972-04-8288397; Email: ecarmeli@univ.haifa.ac.il
    • Principal Investigator: Eli Carmeli, PhD.
    • Sub-Investigator: Sharon Israely, MSc.

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 20 years to 55 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Healthy

Exclusion Criteria:

• Neurologic disease, orthopedic syndrome of the dominant upper extremity.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Error enhancement; Arm reaching rehabilitation training with error-augmentation perturbation forces. One session of about 25 minutes of practicing arm reaching movements on 3D robotic device.	Other: Error enhancement; Participants will sit in front of a 3D robotic device and grab the robotic arm handle. The participants will carry out arm reaching tasks appear on a screen on front of them. Each game of tasks will lasts 2 minutes. The participants will carry out one game to be accustomed to device, followed by one game with null force field, followed by 5 games as the main intervention with error enhancement force field, and another last game with null force field.
Other: Control group; Arm reaching rehabilitation training without error-augmentation perturbation forces. One session of about 25 minutes of practicing arm reaching movements on 3D robotic device.	Other: Control group; Participants will sit in front of a 3D robotic device and grab the robotic arm handle. The participants will carry out arm reaching tasks appear on a screen on front of them. Each game of tasks will lasts 2 minutes. The participants will carry out one game to be accustomed to device and another 7 games with null force field.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in average movement error from baseline	Average size of trajectory error form the straight line while making arm reaching movement	At baseline, before the beginning of the training session, and at followup measurement immediately at the the end of the training session, which is about 45 minutes after the first evaluation.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Borg scale score from baseline	A 6-20 scale that intended describe the subjective level of exertion of the participant.	At baseline, before the beginning of the training session, and at followup measurement immediately at the end of the training session, which is about 45 minutes after the first evaluation.

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Haifa
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Eli Carmeli, PhD., Professor

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: December 1, 2015
• Primary Completion (Anticipated): May 1, 2017
• Study Completion (Anticipated): May 1, 2017

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 28, 2016
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 18, 2016
• First Posted (Estimate): May 24, 2016

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): May 24, 2016
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 18, 2016
• Last Verified: May 1, 2016

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: 036/15

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: Yes
• IPD Plan Description: Journal article