Locomotor Training in Persons With Multiple Sclerosis

University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)

Status and phase: Completed; Phase 2; Phase 1

Conditions: Multiple Sclerosis

Treatments: Device: Lokomat; Procedure: resistive training

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT00607126

RG3724-A-4 (Other Identifier)

06-04-064-02

Details and patient eligibility

About

Locomotor training is a new exercise modality that emphasizes task specificity to promote learning and neural plasticity. It has been reported to improve walking in patients with stroke, spinal cord injury and cerebral palsy. In this study, 40 patients with impaired ambulation due to Multiple Sclerosis will be randomized to receive 36 sessions of either locomotor training or an standard resistive exercise intervention.The locomotor training will be accomplished via a robotic device, the Lokomat, which will move the patient's legs on a treadmill while they are suspended in a harness.

Full description

In this study, subjects with confirmed diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis were randomized into one of two treatment arms. Subjects in the Lokomat arm trained on the Lokomat with a supervising physical therapist for 20-30 minutes/session 3 times/week. The Lokomat is a robotic exoskeleton which enables the subject to step on a moving treadmill. Subjects were suspended in a harness while in the Lokomat with full to partial body weight support as needed. After the training in the Lokomat, they practiced overground walking for 10 minutes.

The other treatment arm had subjects engage in resistance training with weights and resistance elastic bands matched to the Lokomat group for intensity, duration and frequency. they did not practice overground walking.

Primary outcome measure was speed to accomplish 25' timed walk.

Enrollment: 38 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 65 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Persons with Secondary progressive or Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis who are ambulatory with difficulty and /or assistive device

Exclusion criteria

• Ataxia
• Unable to ambulate
• Within 3 months of exacerbation

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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38 participants in 2 patient groups

1

Experimental group

Description:

locomotor training using body weight support on a treadmill, using robotic device to provide locomotor training. Locomotor training will be done using the Lokomat device. the patient is suspended over a treadmill while their legs are in the Lokomat, which moves the legs on the treadmill.

Treatment:

Device: Lokomat

2

Active Comparator group

Description:

resistive training using weights and therabands

Treatment:

Procedure: resistive training