Lokomat Versus Strength Training in Chronic Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury

University of Zurich (UZH)

Status and phase: Completed; Phase 2; Phase 1

Conditions: Spinal Cord Injury

Treatments: Other: Strength Training; Device: RAGT

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01087918

CLI006/2 extension (Other Grant/Funding Number)

EK-21/2008

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this pilot study is to investigate whether gait specific robotic supported bodyweight supported treadmill training and lower extremity strength training have similar beneficial effects on walking function and other outcomes.

Full description

Although task-specific training has been promoted during the last years to improve function, recent studies showed that after an incomplete spinal cord injury, strength, but not complex movement coordination, is affected. In this randomized cross-over trial we investigate the effectiveness of a task-specific 4 week Lokomat training with a 4 week (unspecific) lower extremity muscle strength training on walking-related and other outcomes.

Enrollment: 9 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 16 to 70 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Time since lesion > 1 year
• Outdoor mobility SCIM III < 5
• Stable walking capacity

Exclusion criteria

• participating on other training studies
• osteoporosis
• psychiatric diseases
• epilepsia
• body weight > 130 kg
• cardiac pacemaker

Trial design

Primary purpose: Basic Science

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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9 participants in 2 patient groups

First RAGT, then strength training

Experimental group

Description:

16 sessions of 45 minutes of robot-assisted gait training 4 times a week in first intervention period and 16 sessions of 45 minutes of strength training 4 times a week in second intervention period.

Treatment:

Other: Strength Training

Device: RAGT

First strength training, then RAGT

Experimental group

Description:

16 sessions of 45 minutes of strength training 4 times a week in first intervention period and 16 sessions of 45 minutes of robot-assisted gait training 4 times a week in second intervention period.

Treatment:

Other: Strength Training

Device: RAGT