Exoskeleton Robotic Assisted Gait Training in Spastic Stroke Post Botulinum Toxin A Injection

February 6, 2024 updated by: Chang Gung Memorial Hospital

To Estimate the Efficacy of Botulinum Toxin A Injection Combing With Exoskeleton Robotic Assisted Gait Training in Stroke Patients With Spastic Stiff Knee Gait: Motor Function Performance and Neurophysiological Evaluation

The purpose of this project is to examine and compare the immediate and long-term effects of combined Botulinum toxin type A(BoNT-A) injection with exoskeleton Robotic assisted gait training (RABT) in patients with post-stroke stiff-knee gait.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

The aim of the study is to evaluate the effects of BoNT-A combining with overground exoskeleton robot for patients with post-stroke stiff-knee gait.

Stiff-knee gait (SKG) is a common gait pattern in patients after stroke, characterized by limited knee flexion (KF) during the swing phase of walking. Botulinum toxin A (BoNT-A) injection in rectus femoris muscle is considered the gold standard procedure to treat SKG.

Patients with this gait pattern would reduce walking speed, cause toe dragging, compromise the stability of walking, increase risk of falling, and interfere with daily activities. This randomized controlled trial will contribute to the accelerated refinement and development of efficient and effective treatment programs for patients with post-stroke spastic stiff knee gait. The Robot-assisted gait training (RAGT) has the potential to be an optimal adjunctive therapy following BoNT-A treatment. Combinations of BoNT-A and rehabilitation training are suggested to optimize the treatment effect for spasticity related disabilities.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

36

Phase

  • 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 Locations

  • Taiwan
      • Kaohsiung, Taiwan, 833
        • Recruiting
        • Department of Rehabilitation, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-Kaohsiung Medical Center, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
        • Contact:

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

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke ≥ 3 months
  • Age ≥ 20 years
  • Functional Ambulation Category ≥4
  • Affected rectus femoris spasticity (MAS between 1+ and 2)
  • BoNT-A treatment-naive or treated with BoNT-A ≥4 months in the affected leg before recruitment
  • Receiving oral muscle relaxants or other medication for spasticity were on a stable dose for≥2 months
  • Can obey simple order

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Pregnant
  • Sensitivity to BoNT-A
  • Infection of the skin, soft tissue in the injection area
  • Participation in other trials
  • Fixed contractures or bony deformities in the affected leg
  • Previous treatment of the affected leg with neurolytic or surgical procedures (i.e., phenol block, tendon lengthening of transfer, tenotomy, muscle release, arthrodesis)
  • Severe cardiovascular comorbidity (i.e., recent myocardial infarction, heart failure, uncontrolled hypertension, orthostatic hypotension)

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: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: BoNT-A injection and robot therapy
Training session included 40 minutes Robotic Therapy, the group will receive 2 sessions per week, for 12 weeks.
Procedure: BoNT-A injections
Botox brand BoNT-A Purified Neurotoxin Complex, (Allergan Pharmaceuticals, Irvine, CA) will be prepared by diluting lyophilized toxin with 0.9% saline to a concentration of 33-100 U/ml. depending on the size of the target muscle. Location of the targeted muscle will be confirmed by using echo guide. The total dose range is 100 units. The dose range of each target muscle is as below:100 units in rectus femoris.
Other: BoNT-A injection and robot therapy
Wearable overground exoskeleton lower extremity robot system will be used in this study. The robot lower extremity system consisted with bilateral motors for assisting left and right knees, a pelvis belt and chariot system for suspending the device, and thigh and shank cuffs for attaching the exoskeleton "links" to the user. Patients will wear receive exoskeleton lower extremity robot after BoNT-A injected in the affected rectus femoris, then start to do the functional ambulation training to do 1) walking over ground 2) walking with turning, 3) get in and out of chair, 4) crouching and rising, and 5) going up and down stairs.
Experimental: None BoNT-A injection and robot therapy
Training session included 40 minutes Robotic Therapy, the group will receive 2 sessions per week, for 12 weeks.
Other: None BoNT-A injection and robot therapy
Wearable overground exoskeleton lower extremity robot system will be used in this study. The robot lower extremity system consisted with bilateral motors for assisting left and right knees, a pelvis belt and chariot system for suspending the device, and thigh and shank cuffs for attaching the exoskeleton "links" to the user. Patients will wear receive exoskeleton lower extremity robot (do not inject BoNT-A in the affected rectus femoris), then start to do the functional ambulation training to do 1) walking over ground 2) walking with turning, 3) get in and out of chair, 4) crouching and rising, and 5) going up and down stairs.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Modified Emory Functional Ambulation Profile(mEFAP)
Time Frame: Change from baseline at 5 months
The mEFAP is a clinical test that measures the time to ambulate through five common environmental terrains with or without an assistive device .It has been demonstrated to have a high inter-rater and test-retest reliability as a measure of gait capacity and functional ambulation in the post stroke patient population. The mEFAP comprises five timed tasks: (1) a 5-m walk on a hard floor; (2) a 5-m walk on a carpeted surface; (3) to rise from a chair, a 3-m walk, and return to a seated position (the timed "up-and-go" test); (4) a standardized obstacle course; and (5) to ascent and descent five stairs. The five timed sub scores will be adjusted by a multiplier for any necessary assistive device and then add together to derive a composite score.
Change from baseline at 5 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Modified Ashworth scale
Time Frame: Change from baseline at 5 months
Spasticity of skeletal muscle in lower extremity was evaluated by using the MAS scale. It uses a 8-point scale (0, 1, 1+,2, 2+, 3, 3+, 4) to score the average resistance to passive movement for each join with higher score indicating higher spasticity. The MAS has shown good reliability and validity. Investigators assessed the MAS of knee flexor/ extensor, ankle dorsiflexor/planta flexor in sitting position. The maximum of MAS scale is 4, and the minimum is 0. The higher scores mean a worse outcome.
Change from baseline at 5 months
Medical Research Council scale
Time Frame: Change from baseline at 5 months
The MRC scale is a reliable measurement which ranges from 0 (no contraction) to 5 (normal power). Total scale combines all range and computes average scores, the higher scores mean a better outcome. The MRC scale will be used to examine the muscle strength of the affected hip flexion, knee flexion, knee extension, and ankle dorsiflexion in both sitting and standing positions.
Change from baseline at 5 months
Pendulum test
Time Frame: Change from baseline at 5 months
Investigators use Pendulum test to evaluate the spasticity of knee extensors and record data of gyrometer deg、accelerometer deg、magnet deg. The pendular parameters (first swing excursion and relaxation index) will be extracted from an electro goniometer with 2 sensors, 15 cm above and below lateral femoral epicondyle respectively. Previous study showed the pendular parameters can provide additional ambulatory information, as complementary to the MAS .
Change from baseline at 5 months
Berg Balance Scale
Time Frame: Change from baseline at 5 months
The BBS is a 14-item scale, which is widely used to assess balance disorders in people with stroke, each item is scored from 0 to 4 points. The reliability and validity of the BBS are well established. Investigators used BBS for balance function assessment. The higher scores mean a better outcome.
Change from baseline at 5 months
Six-Minute Walking Test
Time Frame: Change from baseline at 5 months
The 6MWT is commonly used to assess patients' cardiovascular or respiratory problems and is regarded as a submaximal test of aerobic capacity. Investigators will use 6MWT to assess walking endurance. It is now commonly used in stroke patients and is highly reliable in this group. The maximum distance covered on a 20-m walkway in 6 mins is recorded.
Change from baseline at 5 months
Isometric strength
Time Frame: Change from baseline at 5 months
Isometric strength was measured using the Biodex System 3a. Investigators use to test consisting of three knee flexion/extension isometric contractions at 30°, 45°, 90° knee flexion, and record data of isometric peak torque (Nm/kg).Five-second maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) trials were performed ten times. A rest of 15s was given between contractions for each trial, and the interval between two angles was approximately 2 min. Isometric peak torque (Nm/kg) was calculated as the highest value from the filtered torque data during each MVIC, which was normalized by the body mass. The isometric peak torque (Nm) was obtained from the Biodex System 3 software for both flexion and extension.
Change from baseline at 5 months

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Kinematic analysis
Time Frame: Change from baseline at 5 months
Investigators will use a marker less motion capture system for kinematic analysis, use four high-definition cameras to record 30 fps at a resolution of 4 megapixels. The camera was placed uniformly 5 meters away from the center of the subject at the height of1meter, allowing for a maximum number of detections of the entire body. To analyze the kinematics of lower extremity, investigators use Open Pose, a real-time multi-person system, to detect human pose in 2D images Fromm the four high-definition cameras. Investigators will use this test to measure the angle of knee flexion and the step length (cm) of participants.
Change from baseline at 5 months
Gait Assessment and Intervention Tool
Time Frame: Change from baseline at 5 months
GAIT is made up of 31 items divided into 3 sections, which correspond to 3 phases of the gait cycle. Items have 3 possible scores: 0-1, 0-2, and 0-3 points. The maximum punctuation is 64 points that indicates a maximal deficit of the patient gait pattern. Investigators use Gait Assessment and Intervention Tool (GAIT) to do clinical gait observation assessment.
Change from baseline at 5 months
Nottingham Extended Activities of Daily Living Index
Time Frame: Change from baseline at 5 months
The Nottingham Extended Activities of Daily Living Index (Eadl) is made up of 22 items divided into 4 sections, each item is scored from 0 to 3 points. Investigators use Eadl index mobility subdomain to assess the community participation level of participants.
Change from baseline at 5 months
Activities-specific Balance confidence
Time Frame: Change from baseline at 5 months
The Activities-specific Balance confidence (ABS) scale is a questionnaire developed to assess older individual's balance confidence in performing daily activities. ABC scale consists of a wide continuum of less and more challenging daily activities. The ABS scale has 16 items, representing daily activities. Participants are asked to answer, with a score from 0% (not confident at all) to 100% (completely confident) in increments of 10%, how confident they are in performing each activity. The average score obtained is an indication on balance confidence.
Change from baseline at 5 months

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Chang Gung Memorial Hospital

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Hung Jen-Wen, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-Kaohsiung Medical Center

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 (Actual)

August 1, 2023

Primary Completion (Estimated)

July 31, 2025

Study Completion (Estimated)

July 31, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

September 13, 2023

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

October 2, 2023

First Posted (Actual)

October 6, 2023

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

February 8, 2024

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 6, 2024

Last Verified

September 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • NMRPG8N0051

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

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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