Spinal Cord Injuries
Conditions
Brief summary
This study will examine the safety and feasibility of using an exoskeleton in subjects who are less than 6 months post spinal cord injury (SCI).
Detailed description
Study participants with acute SCI (\<6 months post injury) will be involved in an indoor, overground walking program. Locomotor training will include 90 minute sessions (including time to don and doff the device) for 30 training hours (90 minutes, 2-3 times weekly for 8 weeks.)
Interventions
DEVICEExoskeleton
This is an open study and so all participants involved with be using the exoskeleton to determine the safety and feasibility of its use during the acute rehabilitation phase.
Sponsors
University of Calgary
Study design
Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
15 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Individuals aged 15 and older with acute SCI (\<6 months post) Etiology of SCI can be traumatic or non traumatic Includes motor complete (AIS A,B) and motor incomplete (AIS C,D) at C7 or below. Participants must be able to follow 2 step commands Participants must be deemed medically stable by responsible physician or physiatrist * Spine considered stable by surgeon * Surgical wound is approximated and surrounding tissue appears healthy * Participant does not require supplemental Oxygen * Participant is able to have any IV or other lines disconnected. Must meet manufacturer's requirements for use of Ekso GT:
Exclusion criteria
* Range of motion (ROM) restrictions that would prevent a patient from achieving a normal, reciprocal gait pattern, or would restrict a patient from completing normal sit-to-stand or stand-to-sit transitions Spinal instability Untreated deep vein thrombosis (DVT) Decreased standing tolerance due to orthostatic hypotension Significant osteoporosis that prevents safe standing or may increase the risk of fracture caused by standing or walking Uncontrolled spasticity - score of 3 or higher on modified Ashworth Scale Uncontrolled Autonomic Dysreflexia (AD) Skin integrity issues on contact surfaces of the device or on surfaces that would prohibit sitting (sacrum, greater trochanter, proximal tibia) Upper leg length discrepancy greater than half an inch (\> .5) or lower leg discrepancy greater than three-quarters of an inch (\>.75) Cognitive impairments resulting in motor planning or impulsivity concerns Pregnancy
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change from baseline cardiorespiratory status throughout each of the 25 sessions | Every 15 minutes during each training session including: pre and post initial stand, at 15 minute intervals during training and at the end of each of the 25 total sessions, on average of 2 months | Blood pressure, heart rate and peripheral oxygen saturation and will be used to identify any cardiovascular issues of orthostatic hypotension or autonomic dysreflexia. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Falls | From onset to cessation of each training session for 25 sessions, on average of 2 months | Any incidence of falls will be recorded and the participant will be evaluated for injury by unit medical staff or on site emergency staff if warranted. |
| Pain visual analogue scale | At the beginning and end of each training session for 25 sessions, on average of 2 months | Participants draw an intersecting line on a 10 cm line (scale) in order to rate their amount of subjective pain. The distance on the 10 cm line is measured from the left side (no pain) and turned into a numerical value. |
| Skin integrity | At the beginning and end of each training session for 25 sessions, on average of 2 months | A visual inspection of areas of significant weight bearing and skin/machine interface will take place at the beginning and end of each training session to monitor for skin breakdown or compromise. |
| 10 meter walk test | Training sessions 1, 13 and 25 out of the 25 total sessions, on average of 2 months | Time in seconds it takes a subject to walk a distance of 10 meters. |
| 6 minute walk test | Training sessions 1, 13 and 25 of the 25 total sessions, on average of 2 months | Total distance a participant is able to walk in 6 minutes will be measured. |
| Borg scale of perceived exertion | At the beginning, mid point (30 min) and end (60 min) of each training session for 25 sessions, on average of 2 months | Subjects are shown the Borg scale of perceived exertion and are asked to choose the number/descriptor that best aligns with their current level of exertion at 0, 30 and 60 minutes. |
Countries
Canada
Outcome results
None listed