Clinical Trial: Walking Adaptability Post-Spinal Cord Injury

Study Status: Completed
Recruit Status: Completed
Study Type: Interventional

Official Title: Adaptive Walking Responses Critical for Effective Community Ambulation Post-Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury

Brief Summary: The purpose of this study is: (1) to establish assessment techniques (in our laboratory) to identify the functional integrity of long spinal tracts associated with adaptive walking recovery post-spinal cord injury and (2) to preliminary investigate locomotor outcomes associated with an adaptive locomotor training approach post-spinal cord injury.

Detailed Summary:

Eligible individuals without spinal cord injury that are enrolled in the study will participate for 1-2 days. These individuals may undergo a variety of non-invasive neurophysiological tests which evaluate spinal reflexes and integrity of specific spinal pathways. In addition, their movement may be assessed during walking on a treadmill and overground in a variety of different conditions (e.g. with mirrors, without mirrors, with obstacles, without obstacles).

Eligible individuals with spinal cord injury that are enrolled in the study will undergo the same testing as described above for the healthy controls. In addition, a small subset of these individuals may receive locomotor training (3 weeks of basic locomotor training followed by 3 weeks of adaptive locomotor training, separated by a 3 week washout period). For the individuals receiving locomotor training, they will be tested before and after each 3 week training session.


Sponsor: University of Florida

Current Primary Outcome: Changes in joint movement (Kinematics) [ Time Frame: At approximately 0 weeks (pre-LT#1), 3 weeks (post-LT#1), 6 weeks (pre-LT#2) and 9 weeks (post-LT#2). Times may vary slightly if training sessions are missed (i.e. due to illness). ]

During walking on the treadmill and overground, movement of lower extremity joints (hip, knee, and ankle) will be quantified using reflective markers and a 3D motion analysis system.


Original Primary Outcome: Same as current

Current Secondary Outcome:

  • Changes in falls risks during adaptive walking challenges [ Time Frame: At approximately 0 weeks (pre-LT#1), 3 weeks (post-LT#1), 6 weeks (pre-LT#2) and 9 weeks (post-LT#2). Times may vary slightly if training sessions are missed (i.e. due to illness). ]
    Individuals will be tested on a special treadmill that perturbs walking and makes indirect measurements related to falls risks
  • Changes in functional integrity of spinal pathways [ Time Frame: At approximately 0 weeks (pre-LT#1), 3 weeks (post-LT#1), 6 weeks (pre-LT#2) and 9 weeks (post-LT#2). Times may vary slightly if training sessions are missed (i.e. due to illness). ]
    Non-invasive protocols will be used to test a variety of reflexes that provide indirect measures related to the integrity of specific spinal pathways.


Original Secondary Outcome: Same as current

Information By: University of Florida

Dates:
Date Received: April 24, 2013
Date Started: June 2013
Date Completion:
Last Updated: April 30, 2015
Last Verified: April 2015