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The Middle East Stepping Forward Project (MESF)

Improving Treatment of People With Movement Disorders in the Middle East

Status
UNKNOWN
Phases
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT01466296
Acronym
MESF
Enrollment
120
Registered
2011-11-07
Start date
2010-10-31
Completion date
2012-04-30
Last updated
2011-11-07

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Cerebral Palsy, Poststroke/CVA Paresis

Keywords

CERBRAL PALSY, Poststroke/CVA Paresis, REHABILITATION, WALKING, PERUTURBATION

Brief summary

The overall objective is to improve the functional status of Middle East adolescents with disabilities due to cerebral palsy (CP) and disabilities in adults due to cerebro-vascular stroke (Hemiplegia) by a collaborative Jordanian-Israeli-Palestinian-Moroccan applied research project.

Detailed description

Specific objectives are: To compare the efficacy of two rehabilitation technologies to facilitate neural reorganization, transfer and retention of treatments results to improve walking in real life situations The investigators suggest a new approach of treatment intervention that will induce unexpected changes of underfoot slopes during walking and will force the central nervous system (CNS) to react and solve problems. The investigators also propose that the new approach will have a significantly superior motor function improvement that will be transferred to real environmental settings and be retained for long periods of time. Research methods and materials Subjects: A total of 166 subjects will be studied in two groups of handicapped persons: 1. 83 Teenagers with cerebral palsy: the CP group 2. 83 Subjects with chronic hemiparesis: the HP group Each group will be sub-divided into three secondary groups, having similar age distributions and level of motor function for the two different therapy approaches: * 21 Treadmill exercise training * 21 Training by randomized perturbations wearing the Random Shoe system * 21 Training with dummy shoes without perturbations The time flow protocol: Recruiting subjects according to inclusion/exclusion criteria The subjects will be tested with the following measures (see arms)at * T0 before starting the interventions to form a base line * T1 after 12 weeks of intensive treatments 3 x week 45 min. * T2 6 months after T1, after the treatment was stopped, to check retainment of results of the treatments after a period of normal daily schedule of the subject The treatments will start in a week from T0 The T1 will be performed in a week after the treatment was completed The T2 will be performed 6 months (take or leave 2 weeks) after T1, 6 months after treatment was stopped.

Interventions

DEVICEChaotic Perturbation

Each subject will undergo 36 intervention sessions, 3 times per week over 12 weeks. Each session will last up to 45 minuets, depending on the subject's endurance. During each session the subject will perform basic stretching and muscle strengthening, then wear the random shoes and perform a set of exercises following specific verbal tasks, e.g., Walk 5 strides forward, or, Walk to the right side until I ask you to stop. During this stage of walking the device will impose perturbations in the range tolerated by the subject. The therapist will make a written report of each session.

DEVICEDummy not active shoes

Each subject will undergo 36 intervention sessions, 3 times per week over 12 weeks. Each session will last up to 45 minuets, depending on the subject's endurance. During each session the subject will perform basic stretching and muscle strengthening, then wear the dummy shoes and perform a set of exercises following specific verbal tasks, e.g., Walk 5 strides forward, or, Walk to the right side until I ask you to stop. During this stage of walking the device will not impose perturbations. The therapist will make a written report of each session.

DEVICETreadmill training

Each subject will undergo 36 intervention sessions, 3 times per week over 12 weeks. Each session will last up to 45 minuets, depending on the subject's endurance. During each session the subject will exercise basic stretching and muscle strengthening, then walk on the treadmill. A physiotherapist according the subject's rate of improvement will determine the increase in treadmill velocity and slope. The therapist will make a written report after each session.

Sponsors

Assaf-Harofeh Medical Center
Lead SponsorOTHER_GOV

Study design

Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
14 Years to 69 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria for CP group: 1. Diagnosis of cerebral palsy 2. Predominantly spastic type of CP with distribution of diplegia / tetraplegia 3. Age: 14 - 20 yr 4. GMFCS (gross motor function classification system) at levels II & III 5. A cognitive level sufficient to comprehend and cooperate in treatment and testing 6. No orthopedic surgery or other tone reduction intervention in last 6 months 7. Not a candidate for orthopedic surgical or other tone reduction intervention.

Exclusion criteria

for CP group: 1. Candidates for orthopedic surgical or any other tone reduction procedures, e.g., botulin injections, baclofen pump interventions 2. Cannot cooperate in treatment or understand instructions 3. Uncontrolled convulsions if epileptic 4. Adolescents with progressive degenerative conditions of CNS or/and muscle-skeletal system. Inclusion Criteria: Inclusion criteria for HP group: 1. Stroke survivors in chronic stage (1 year or more following stroke 2. Age: 40 - 65 yr 3. Mild to moderate gait with ability to ambulate \> 10m with or without assistive device 4. Cognitive level sufficient to comprehend and cooperate in tests and training 5. Mini-mental state examination (MMSE) score \> 24 6: Receive medical clearance from their family physician.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
10 meter walk test (10MWT)10-meter walk test (Rossier & Wade, 2001) will assess normal walking speed. The participant walks a straight path distance of 10 meters at normal walking speed with time recorded. The test will be performed twice with the number of steps counted. The tester or an assistant remains near the participant to prevent a fall or injury if they appear unsteady.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
6 Minuets Walk Test (6MinWT)The 6-minute walk test (Enright, 2003) will be used to assess walking endurance. Subjects are instructed to cover as much distance as possible while walking around a marked course for 6 minutes. A member of the research staff will closely monitor the subjects.
Mechanical EfficiencyMechanical efficiency will be measured by the stair-climbing test (SCT) (Bar-Haim, et al. 2004; 2008). Metabolic cost is predicted from heart rate during the external work while stair-climbing and mechanical efficiency is calculated.
WHOQOL-BREFThe WHO's Quality of Life (WHOQoL-BREF) is an international cross-culturally comparable quality of life assessment instrument. It assesses the individual's perceptions in the context of their culture and value systems, and their personal goals, standards and concerns.
Berg Balance Scale (BBS)The BBS is a 14-item scale that quantitatively assesses balance and risk for falls in older community-dwelling adults through direct observation of their performance.

Countries

Israel

Contacts

Primary ContactSimona Bar-Haim, PhD
adi-star@013.net+972 8 9778280
Backup ContactNetta Harries, BPT
netaa@asaf.health.gov.il+972 8 9778280

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026