User-centred Assistive System for Arm Functions in Neuromuscular Subjects

NCT03127241 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: GUP 15021
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 38
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 2

Brief Summary

Restore a lost function is a special experience for people affected by neuromuscular evolutive diseases. "From the patient's point of view improvement is measured by regaining lost abilities,-by being able to do something -anything-today I couldn't do yesterday ". Upper limb pain, stiffness and activity limitations have a crucial role in reducing patients' autonomy and worsening quality of life. Real users' needs have been identified thought several workshops, and even if the commercial products might assure a benefit to some users and meet most of their requirements, so far a validation of the use of such devices by people with neuromuscular disease is missing. We aim at field-testing the improvement in arm functions provided by the use of some commercial devices and assessing their impact to users' quality of life and independence. This step is essential to assure a widespread accessibility to these devices for most of the potential users, possibly providing health providers with direction and guidance towards Health Technology Assessment. Clinical Trial design - The study proposes on-field validation of JAECO WREX, passive antigravity exoskeleton; and Armon Ayura, motorized arm exoskeleton for gravity compensation in a randomized controlled trial with crossover design. The clinical study will is multi-centric, involving both MEDEA and VALDUCE, and received the Ethical Committee approval.

Conditions

Muscular Dystrophies; Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne; Muscular Dystrophy, Becker; Muscular Dystrophy, Limb-Girdle Type 2

Keywords

Assistive devices; Randomized controlled trial (RCT); Upper limbs; Robotic devices

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Performance of the Upper Limb (PUL) scale

  The PUL includes 22 items with an entry item to define the starting functional level, and 21 items subdivided into shoulder level (4 items), middle level (9 items) and distal level (8 items) dimension. For weaker patients a low score on the entry item means high level items do not need to be performed. Scoring options vary across the scale between 0-1 to 0-6 according to performance. Each dimension can be scored separately with a maximum score of 16 for the shoulder level, 34 for the middle level, and 24 for the distal level . A total score can be achieved by adding the three level scores (max total score 74).

  T0 (baseline); T1 (after 3-days short training with device 1); T2 (after 2-weeks home use of device 1 - primary assessment point); T3 (after 3-days short training with device 2); T4 (after 2-weeks home use of device 2 - secondary assessment point)

Secondary Outcomes (8)

• Motor Function Measures scale (MFM)

  T0 (baseline); T1 (after 3-days short training with device 1); T2 (after 2-weeks home use of device 1 - primary assessment point); T3 (after 3-days short training with device 2); T4 (after 2-weeks home use of device 2 - secondary assessment point)

• Brooke scale

  T0 (baseline); T1 (after 3-days short training with device 1); T2 (after 2-weeks home use of device 1 - primary assessment point); T3 (after 3-days short training with device 2); T4 (after 2-weeks home use of device 2 - secondary assessment point)

• ABILHAND

  T0 (baseline); T1 (after 3-days short training with device 1); T2 (after 2-weeks home use of device 1 - primary assessment point); T3 (after 3-days short training with device 2); T4 (after 2-weeks home use of device 2 - secondary assessment point)

• PedsQL

  T0 (baseline); T2 (after 2-weeks home use of device 1 - primary assessment point); T4 (after 2-weeks home use of device 2 - secondary assessment point)

• PROMIS FATIGUE Short Form

  T0 (baseline); T2 (after 2-weeks home use of device 1 - primary assessment point); T4 (after 2-weeks home use of device 2 - secondary assessment point)

Study Arms (2)

Armon Ayura

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Upper limb assistive device with active solutions for gravity compensation. Intervention: The upper limb exoskeleton is worn by the patient on the preferred arm, and it is used during daily life activities to support arm movements, particularly getting rid of gravity arm weight.

Device: Assistive device (Armon Ayura) test

Jaeco Wrex

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Upper limb assistive device with passive solutions for gravity compensation. Intervention: The upper limb exoskeleton is worn by the patient on the preferred arm, and it is used during daily life activities to support arm movements, particularly getting rid of gravity arm weight.

Device: Assistive device (Jaeco Wrex) test

Interventions

Assistive device (Armon Ayura) test DEVICE

Short Training (T0-T1) - each subject will undergo a 3-day training at the clinical center during which technicians, along with a physiotherapist will adjust and customize the device and explain possible independent use at home. Domestic use (T1-T2) - Subjects will use the device during their daily life activities for two weeks at home. They will perform task-oriented movements (e.g. reaching a mouse and objects on a table, moving back to the wheelchair, drinking), free movements, playful activities (e.g. playing chess, leafing through a book), and self-care activities, accordingly to subject's residual capability, for a minimum period of 5 hours/day. They will keep a structured diary where all the problems, achievements and comments will be reported.

Armon Ayura

Assistive device (Jaeco Wrex) test DEVICE

Short Training (T0-T1) - each subject will undergo a 3-day training at the clinical center during which technicians, along with a physiotherapist will adjust and customize the device and explain possible independent use at home. Domestic use (T1-T2) - Subjects will use the device during their daily life activities for two weeks at home. They will perform task-oriented movements (e.g. reaching a mouse and objects on a table, moving back to the wheelchair, drinking), free movements, playful activities (e.g. playing chess, leafing through a book), and self-care activities, accordingly to subject's residual capability, for a minimum period of 5 hours/day. They will keep a structured diary where all the problems, achievements and comments will be reported.

Jaeco Wrex

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 15 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• signed informed consent (we will expose the family the aims of our study and carefully describe the need of compliance with them)
• diagnosis of muscular dystrophy (genetic, histological and biochemical if necessary),specifically with Duchenne, Becker and Limb Girdle type 2 muscular dystrophy. No muscle biopsy will be performed, except in case there is a diagnostic need.
• being wheelchair bound
• having a scoring at the MRC scale for upper limb at the deltoid, biceps, triceps brachii muscles ranging from 2 to 4.

You may not qualify if:

• presence of additional diseases (for example: family history of mental retardation, epilepsy, cerebral palsy)
• behavioral and psychiatric disturbances (emotional problems, depression)
• absence of compliance to the study of the family and the caregivers

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Politecnico di Milano: lead
• IRCCS Eugenio Medea: collaborator
• Villa Beretta Rehabilitation Center: collaborator

Study Sites (2)

IRCCS E. Medea - La Nostra Famiglia

Bosisio Parini, LC, 23842, Italy

Location

Villa Beretta

Costa Masnaga, LC, 23845, Italy

Location

Related Publications (9)

• Magri F, Nigro V, Angelini C, Mongini T, Mora M, Moroni I, Toscano A, D'angelo MG, Tomelleri G, Siciliano G, Ricci G, Bruno C, Corti S, Musumeci O, Tasca G, Ricci E, Monforte M, Sciacco M, Fiorillo C, Gandossini S, Minetti C, Morandi L, Savarese M, Fruscio GD, Semplicini C, Pegoraro E, Govoni A, Brusa R, Del Bo R, Ronchi D, Moggio M, Bresolin N, Comi GP. The italian limb girdle muscular dystrophy registry: Relative frequency, clinical features, and differential diagnosis. Muscle Nerve. 2017 Jan;55(1):55-68. doi: 10.1002/mus.25192. Epub 2016 Oct 28.

  PMID: 27184587 BACKGROUND

• Ricci G, Ruggiero L, Vercelli L, Sera F, Nikolic A, Govi M, Mele F, Daolio J, Angelini C, Antonini G, Berardinelli A, Bucci E, Cao M, D'Amico MC, D'Angelo G, Di Muzio A, Filosto M, Maggi L, Moggio M, Mongini T, Morandi L, Pegoraro E, Rodolico C, Santoro L, Siciliano G, Tomelleri G, Villa L, Tupler R. A novel clinical tool to classify facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy phenotypes. J Neurol. 2016 Jun;263(6):1204-14. doi: 10.1007/s00415-016-8123-2. Epub 2016 Apr 28.

  PMID: 27126453 BACKGROUND

• Pane M, Mazzone ES, Fanelli L, De Sanctis R, Bianco F, Sivo S, D'Amico A, Messina S, Battini R, Scutifero M, Petillo R, Frosini S, Scalise R, Vita G, Bruno C, Pedemonte M, Mongini T, Pegoraro E, Brustia F, Gardani A, Berardinelli A, Lanzillotta V, Viggiano E, Cavallaro F, Sframeli M, Bello L, Barp A, Bonfiglio S, Rolle E, Colia G, Catteruccia M, Palermo C, D'Angelo G, Pini A, Iotti E, Gorni K, Baranello G, Morandi L, Bertini E, Politano L, Sormani M, Mercuri E. Reliability of the Performance of Upper Limb assessment in Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Neuromuscul Disord. 2014 Mar;24(3):201-6. doi: 10.1016/j.nmd.2013.11.014. Epub 2013 Dec 5.

  PMID: 24440357 BACKGROUND

• McDonald CM, Meier T, Voit T, Schara U, Straathof CS, D'Angelo MG, Bernert G, Cuisset JM, Finkel RS, Goemans N, Rummey C, Leinonen M, Spagnolo P, Buyse GM; DELOS Study Group. Idebenone reduces respiratory complications in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Neuromuscul Disord. 2016 Aug;26(8):473-80. doi: 10.1016/j.nmd.2016.05.008. Epub 2016 May 12.

  PMID: 27238057 BACKGROUND

• Messina S, Vita GL, Sframeli M, Mondello S, Mazzone E, D'Amico A, Berardinelli A, La Rosa M, Bruno C, Distefano MG, Baranello G, Barcellona C, Scutifero M, Marcato S, Palmieri A, Politano L, Morandi L, Mongini T, Pegoraro E, D'Angelo MG, Pane M, Rodolico C, Minetti C, Bertini E, Vita G, Mercuri E. Health-related quality of life and functional changes in DMD: A 12-month longitudinal cohort study. Neuromuscul Disord. 2016 Mar;26(3):189-96. doi: 10.1016/j.nmd.2016.01.003. Epub 2016 Feb 2.

  PMID: 26916554 BACKGROUND

• Pane M, Fanelli L, Mazzone ES, Olivieri G, D'Amico A, Messina S, Scutifero M, Battini R, Petillo R, Frosini S, Sivo S, Vita GL, Bruno C, Mongini T, Pegoraro E, De Sanctis R, Gardani A, Berardinelli A, Lanzillotta V, Carlesi A, Viggiano E, Cavallaro F, Sframeli M, Bello L, Barp A, Bianco F, Bonfiglio S, Rolle E, Palermo C, D'Angelo G, Pini A, Iotti E, Gorni K, Baranello G, Bertini E, Politano L, Sormani MP, Mercuri E. Benefits of glucocorticoids in non-ambulant boys/men with Duchenne muscular dystrophy: A multicentric longitudinal study using the Performance of Upper Limb test. Neuromuscul Disord. 2015 Oct;25(10):749-53. doi: 10.1016/j.nmd.2015.07.009. Epub 2015 Jul 17.

  PMID: 26248957 BACKGROUND

• Magliano L, D'Angelo MG, Vita G, Pane M, D'Amico A, Balottin U, Angelini C, Battini R, Politano L, Patalano M, Sagliocchi A, Civati F, Brighina E, Vita GL, Messina S, Sframeli M, Lombardo ME, Scalise R, Colia G, Catteruccia M, Berardinelli A, Motta MC, Gaiani A, Semplicini C, Bello L, Astrea G, Zaccaro A, Scutifero M. Psychological and practical difficulties among parents and healthy siblings of children with Duchenne vs. Becker muscular dystrophy: an Italian comparative study. Acta Myol. 2014 Dec;33(3):136-43.

  PMID: 25873782 BACKGROUND

• Buyse GM, Voit T, Schara U, Straathof CS, D'Angelo MG, Bernert G, Cuisset JM, Finkel RS, Goemans N, Rummey C, Leinonen M, Mayer OH, Spagnolo P, Meier T, McDonald CM; DELOS Study Group. Treatment effect of idebenone on inspiratory function in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2017 Apr;52(4):508-515. doi: 10.1002/ppul.23547. Epub 2016 Aug 29.

  PMID: 27571420 BACKGROUND

• Longatelli V, Antonietti A, Biffi E, Diella E, D'Angelo MG, Rossini M, Molteni F, Bocciolone M, Pedrocchi A, Gandolla M. User-centred assistive SystEm for arm Functions in neUromuscuLar subjects (USEFUL): a randomized controlled study. J Neuroeng Rehabil. 2021 Jan 6;18(1):4. doi: 10.1186/s12984-020-00794-z.

  PMID: 33407580 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Muscular Dystrophies; Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne; Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 2A

Interventions

Self-Help Devices

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Muscular Disorders, Atrophic; Muscular Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Neuromuscular Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Genetic Diseases, Inborn; Congenital, Hereditary, and Neonatal Diseases and Abnormalities; Genetic Diseases, X-Linked

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Equipment and Supplies

Study Officials

• Alessandra Pedrocchi, Prof

  Politecnico di Milano

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 20, 2017
• First Posted: April 25, 2017
• Study Start: June 16, 2017
• Primary Completion: November 30, 2019
• Study Completion: November 30, 2019
• Last Updated: December 10, 2019

Record last verified: 2019-12

Locations

IT (2)