NCT06643312

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to investigate how standing and sitting balance control is altered after spinal cord injury (SCI) and how a new type of robotic assistive device may be used to improve muscle function. This device is called the Tethered Pelvic Assist Device, or TPAD. The main aims are to: 1\. Examine muscle activation patterns generated during different types of standing in spinal cord injured individuals using robotic assistance or self-assistance for balance 2 and 3. Examine the effectiveness of robotic-assisted stand training in the improvement of posture control during different types of standing and sitting in spinal cord injured individuals. Participants will be placed into one of 5 groups based on a physical classification of their spinal cord injury: Group 1:

  • Individuals with SCI that can stand independently
  • Will receive TPAD training
  • Will undergo standing, posture, sitting, and stepping assessments
  • Participation in this group will last about six months Group 2:
  • Individuals with SCI that cannot stand independently
  • Will receive TPAD training
  • Will undergo standing, posture, sitting, and stepping assessments
  • Participation in this group will last about 6 months Group 3:
  • Individuals with SCI that can stand independently
  • Will undergo standing and posture assessments
  • Participation in this group will last about 2 weeks Group 4:
  • Individuals with SCI that cannot stand independently
  • Will undergo standing and posture assessments
  • Participation in this group will last about 2 weeks Group 5:
  • Individuals without a SCI
  • Will undergo standing, posture, and sitting assessments
  • Participation in this group will last about 2 weeks

Trial Health

77
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
50

participants targeted

Target at P25-P50 for not_applicable

Timeline
20mo left

Started Oct 2024

Typical duration for not_applicable

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
recruiting

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

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Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Progress48%
Oct 2024Jan 2028

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

September 18, 2024

Completed
28 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

October 16, 2024

Completed
6 days until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

October 22, 2024

Completed
2.9 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

October 1, 2027

Expected
3 months until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

January 1, 2028

Last Updated

December 16, 2024

Status Verified

December 1, 2024

Enrollment Period

2.9 years

First QC Date

September 18, 2024

Last Update Submit

December 11, 2024

Conditions

Keywords

TPAD

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

  • Sitting Assessment

    Research participants will sit on a padded table and perform tasks to challenge their balance control (reaching/shifting weight in multiple directions). Assistance for sitting will be provided at the trunk by the TPAD or by the trainer. EMG and kinematic analysis will be performed on the lower extremities, trunk and upper extremities during sitting. The trunk force and position controller data from the TPAD will be also collected; these data will be synchronized with EMG and kinematic data. Muscle activation patterns will be evaluated recording EMG from different muscle groups. The TPAD/trainer will then generate controlled loss of balance during sitting. EMG onset and burst duration relative to perturbation onset, loss of balance onset and return to balance will be compared. EMG mean and integrated amplitudes from each muscle will be compared before and after training. Relationships between these parameters will also be calculated and compared with non-disabled data.

    On average 4 hours to complete. Done at the beginning of the study for groups 1, 2, and 5. Repeated by groups 1 & 2 during training (up to 4 times) and at the end of the study (on average 6 months).

  • Neuromuscular Recovery Scale (NRS)

    Research participants will undergo a series of tasks to test the level of muscle activation and amount of assistance required during standing and stepping in a body-weight supported treadmill environment, as well as overground motor tasks. Arm, trunk/leg movement recovery and independency will be measured by the NRS using 14 motor tasks (sit, reverse sit up, sit up, sitting truck extension, overhead press, forward reach and grasp, door pull and open, can open and manipulation, sit to stand, stand, walking, stand adaptability, step retraining, and step adaptability) and combined with EMG, kinematic, and kinetic analyses on the upper and lower extremities and/or trunk. Based on the performance across categories, 4 phase scores can be assigned:1- greatest impairment relative to normal movement patterns (non-ambulatory), 2- begins to stand and weight support independently, 3- walking with varying skill levels, and 4- normal locomotor and transfer performance with adaptability.

    On average, 2 hours to complete. Groups 1 and 2 will complete the NRS at the beginning of the study and at the end (on average 6 months).

  • Standing Assessment

    Participants will stand as long as possible and undergo a series of standing tasks. Electromyography (EMG), kinematic and kinetic analysis will be performed on the lower extremities and trunk during standing. The pelvic, trunk and knee force and position controller data from the TPAD will be collected and synchronized. Muscle activation patterns will be evaluated recording EMG from different muscle groupings. When appropriate, ground reaction forces will be measured. Blood pressure and heart rate will be measured. The TPAD will then generate controlled loss of balance during standing. Participants will regain balance with/without grasping a fixed object. Investigators will compare EMG onset and burst duration relative to perturbation onset, loss of balance onset and return to balance if applicable. EMG mean and amplitudes from each muscle will be compared before and after training. The relationship between these parameters will also be calculated and compared with non-disabled data.

    On average 4 hours to complete. Done at the beginning of the study for all groups. Repeated by groups 1 & 2 during training (up to 4 times) and at the end of the study (on average 6 months).

Study Arms (5)

Group 1

OTHER

* Individuals with SCI that can stand independently * Will receive TPAD training * Will undergo standing, posture, sitting, and stepping assessments * Participation in this group will last about six months

Device: The Tethered Pelvic Assist Device (TPAD)

Group 2

OTHER

* Individuals with SCI that cannot stand independently * Will receive TPAD training * Will undergo standing, posture, sitting, and stepping assessments * Participation in this group will last about 6 months

Device: The Tethered Pelvic Assist Device (TPAD)

Group 3

NO INTERVENTION

* Individuals with SCI that can stand independently * Will undergo standing and posture assessments * Participation in this group will last about 2 weeks

Group 4

NO INTERVENTION

* Individuals with SCI that cannot stand independently * Will undergo standing and posture assessments * Participation in this group will last about 2 weeks

Group 5

NO INTERVENTION

* Individuals without a SCI * Will undergo standing, posture, and sitting assessments * Participation in this group will last about 2 weeks

Interventions

a light-weight cable-driven robotic stand trainer that (i) can provide assistance-as-needed by applying corrective forces on the trunk and pelvis in response to their movement outside a pre-programmed area, and (ii) can apply controlled forces on the trunk and pelvis to perturb them from their nominal configuration during standing.

Group 1Group 2

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years+
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersYes
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • At least 18 years of age at the time of enrollment;
  • stable medical condition
  • at least one year post-spinal cord injury (Groups 1-4)
  • non-progressive, traumatic SCI above T10 (Groups 1-4)
  • Injury Grade A, B, C or D (Groups 1-4)
  • ability to stand independently for short periods of time, not exceeding 1 hour (Groups 1 and 3)
  • inability to stand independently (Groups 2 and 4)

You may not qualify if:

  • unwillingness to wean from anti-spasticity medications;
  • untreated painful musculoskeletal dysfunction, unhealed fracture, contracture, pressure sore or urinary tract infection
  • history of bone disease unassociated with decreased bone mineral density due to spinal cord injury
  • ongoing drug abuse
  • untreated psychiatric disorders or clinical depression
  • received botox injections in lower extremities in the prior six months
  • Cardiopulmonary disease that may interfere with assessments
  • Untreated severe and persistent dysautonomia
  • Neurological injury or disease (Group 5)
  • Orthopedic injury or condition (Group 5)

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

Kessler Foundation

West Orange, New Jersey, 07052, United States

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Spinal Cord Injuries

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Spinal Cord DiseasesCentral Nervous System DiseasesNervous System DiseasesTrauma, Nervous SystemWounds and Injuries

Study Officials

  • Gail F Forrest, PhD

    Kessler Foundation

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Gail F Forrest, PhD

CONTACT

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
NON RANDOMIZED
Masking
NONE
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE CARE
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Model Details: The study will include 50 participants, 20 with SCI who are able to stand independently for short periods of time (\<1 hour) (Groups 1 \& 3), 20 participants with SCI who are unable to stand independently (Groups 2 \& 4), and 10 non-disabled individuals (Group 5). Group 1 (n=10) will be evaluated before and after receiving stand training with the TPAD. Group 2 (n=10) will be evaluated before and after receiving stand training with the TPAD. Group 3 (n=10) will be evaluated without receiving any intervention. Group 4 (n=10) will be evaluated without receiving any intervention. Groups 3 and 4, who will not receive any intervention, will undergo the Stable Standing Assessment and the Postural Perturbation Assessment only. Group 5 (n=10) will undergo assessments only. Each individual will serve as their own control, reducing the variability among individuals. Motor patterns recorded from the SCI participants will be also compared to those collected from non-disabled individuals.
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Associate Director, Tim and Caroline Reynolds Center for Spinal Stimulation

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

September 18, 2024

First Posted

October 16, 2024

Study Start

October 22, 2024

Primary Completion (Estimated)

October 1, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

January 1, 2028

Last Updated

December 16, 2024

Record last verified: 2024-12

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will not share

All Individual Participant Data (IPD) will be kept with the study research team at Kessler Foundation. IPD will be de-identified and may be shared with the device research team at Columbia University, the FDA, Kessler Foundation Institutional Review Board, the Department of Health and Human Services, and collaborators at the Kentucky Spinal Cord Injury Research Center.

Locations