Locomotor training is a new exercise modality that emphasizes task specificity to promote learning and neural plasticity. It has been reported to improve walking in patients with stroke, spinal cord injury and cerebral palsy. In this study, 40 patients with impaired ambulation due to Multiple Sclerosis will be randomized to receive 36 sessions of either locomotor training or an standard resistive exercise intervention.The locomotor training will be accomplished via a robotic device, the Lokomat, which will move the patient's legs on a treadmill while they are suspended in a harness.
In this study, subjects with confirmed diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis were randomized into one of two treatment arms. Subjects in the Lokomat arm trained on the Lokomat with a supervising physical therapist for 20-30 minutes/session 3 times/week. The Lokomat is a robotic exoskeleton which enables the subject to step on a moving treadmill. Subjects were suspended in a harness while in the Lokomat with full to partial body weight support as needed. After the training in the Lokomat, they practiced overground walking for 10 minutes. The other treatment arm had subjects engage in resistance training with weights and resistance elastic bands matched to the Lokomat group for intensity, duration and frequency. they did not practice overground walking. Primary outcome measure was speed to accomplish 25' timed walk.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
38
locomotor training using body weight support on a treadmill
resistive training using theraband and/or weights
UCLA
Los Angeles, California, United States
Walking Speed as Assessed by 25' Timed Walk
This is the time needed for participant to walk 25 feet. Participant walks on a level surface. the walk from start to finish is timed with a stop watch three measures are done and the average value is entered.
Time frame: at beginning,mid point, end and 12 weeks after intervention
Distance
distance assessed by 6 minute walk test
Time frame: baseline, mid point, end and 12 weeks after training
Fatigue
fatigue assessed by modified fatigue impact scale. This is a 21 item questionnaire which has a range from 0-84. Higher scores indicate more impact of fatigue on physical and cognitive functioning.
Time frame: baseline, mid, completetion, 3 months post
PASAT
Cognitive measure of attention and information processing speed. Score goes from 0-60 with higher number indicating better performance. Scores are expressed as mean chamge rfom baseline; negative numbers indicate worse performance
Time frame: baseline, mid, completion, 3 months post training
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