Effect of Robot-assisted Gait Training on Freezing of Gait in Parkinson's Disease

Freezing of gait (FOG) is a common yet poorly understood motor symptom in persons with Parkinson's disease (PD). Previous studies have shown that bilateral uncoordinated gait and gait asymmetry are related to FOG, and that intensive treadmill training in PD patients can improve gait. However, no group has yet studied the effect of robot-assisted gait training (RAGT) on FOG. The primary aim of this study is to collect pilot data on the effect of robot-assisted gait training in reducing episodes of freezing in PD.

Subjects with Parkinson's disease that experience freezing of gait will be recruited and enrolled following informed consent and screening for eligibility. Each of the 10 training session will last approximately one hour. Neurological evaluations, testing of gait parameters, and quality of life assessments will be conducted. Participants will also be asked to return for 1- and 3-month post-intervention assessments to see if the training has any lasting effects. Approximately 10-20 subjects will be enrolled, and the study will last up to 6 months.

Robot-assisted gait training will be conducted with the Lokomat (a treadmill with supplemental robot-assistance for moving the hip and knee). We will monitor changes in freezing by conducting various assessments.

There are approximately 1 million Americans with PD in the US. PD is a significant cause for reduced functional ability and quality of life, progressive disability. Patients with PD with FOG have indicated that this is one of their most disturbing symptoms, as there are no effective treatments. Therefore it is important that additional and alternative interventions for FOG be tested and developed.

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Key information

Conditions

Parkinson's Disease Basal Ganglia Diseases Brain Diseases Central Nervous System Diseases Movement Disorders Nervous System Diseases Neurodegenerative Diseases Parkinson Disease Parkinsonian Disorders Synucleinopathies

Age range

18 year–85 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 1 / Phase 2

Primary location

Providence VA Medical Center

Providence, Rhode Island, 02908-4799, United States

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Diagnosis of idiopathic PD by UK Brain Bank criteria, without other significant neurological problems.
Men and women between the ages of 18-85 years.
History of FOG by self-report and verified by MD.
Must be able to walk unassisted when not freezing but use of a device to prevent falls and overcome freezing is not exclusionary. (Device should not be used for visual cueing).

Exclusion criteria

Cognitively unable to understand instructions required by the study.
Presence of medical or neurological infirmity that might contribute to significant gait dysfunction (such as severe OA, foot drop, sensory neuropathy, blindness, joint replacement, etc.), determined by the physician during the screening exam.
Cardiovascular: recent MI < 4 wk, uncontrolled HTN >190/110 mmHg.
History of uncontrolled diabetes.
Significant symptoms of orthostasis when standing up.
Circulatory problems, history of vascular claudication or 3+ pitting edema.
Body weight over 100 kg.
Lower extremity injuries that limit range of motion or function.
Joint problems (hip or leg) that limit range of motion or cause pain with movement despite treatment.
Unstable fractures.
Pressure sores with any skin breakdown in areas in contact with the body harness or Lokomat apparatus.
Chronic and ongoing alcohol or drug abuse.
Active depression, anxiety or psychosis that might interfere with use of the equipment or testing.
Inability to participate in and complete the training sessions.
Patients determined to have an atypical parkinsonian syndrome by a neurologist.
Patients with PD that have undergone deep brain stimulation.
Primarily wheelchair bound.

Treatment and study plan

Lokomat

Device

The Lokomat is a motor driven exoskeleton device that employs a body weight support suspension system and treadmill. Attached to the lower limbs, the Lokomat moves the subject's legs through position controlled trajectories that mimic normal human gait patterns. This is accomplished by utilizing high quality computer-controlled motors that are precisely synchronized with the speed of the treadmill. The hip and knee joint angles are controlled in real time by software to achieve kinematically correct stepping behaviors. Each of the four motor-driven joints is individually controlled to correspond precisely to the desired joint angle trajectories. This system assures a precise match between the speed of the limb trajectory and the treadmill. In addition, sensors in the motors provide an indirect indicator of the amount of effort the patient is generating to achieve walking in an upright posture.

Primary outcomes

Freezing of Gait

Time frame: Each Visit

Temporary halting of gait

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

US Department of Veterans Affairs

Fed

Registry information

Important dates

Study start: 2008
Primary completion: 2010
Study completion: 2010
First posted: Jan 9, 2009
Registry last updated: Sep 20, 2013

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.

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