Effects of High Intensity Stepping Training on Gait in Patients With Ataxia

The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston4 enrolled

Overview

The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of high intensity stepping training on gait recovery, including walking speed and endurance, in patients with cerebellar ataxia. The hypothesis is that there will be a significant improvement in gait outcome measures (6 Minute Walk Test and 10 Meter Walk Test) in patients who receive high-intensity stepping training during physical therapy.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

Conditions

Cerebellar Ataxia

Interventions

Polar H10 heart rate monitorDEVICE

Heart rate will be monitored using a Polar H10 heart rate monitor, with the goal of reaching moderate to high intensity for 30 minutes during the one hour long therapy intervention.

Therastride Treadmill SystemDEVICE

Participants will be asked to walk on the Therastride Treadmill for 30 minutes.This treadmill can unweight patients so that the task of walking becomes easier. The body weight can be adjusted depending on how much assistance a patient needs from 0% of their bodyweight (completely independent) to up to 50% of their bodyweight for the purposes of this study.

VECTOR BionessDEVICE

Participants will be asked to walk using the VECTOR Bioness on a track outside the gym with a harness attached to an overhead sling system. This system can unweight patients so that the task of walking becomes easier. The body weight can be adjusted depending on how much assistance a patient needs from 0% of their bodyweight (completely independent) to up to 50% of their bodyweight for the purposes of this study. This system allows for overground walking on a small indoor track as opposed to walking on a treadmill.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 65 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * diagnosis of ataxia * admitted to The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research (TIRR) Texas Medical Center (TMC) Inpatient or TIRR Kirby Glenn Outpatient * pathology that primarily affects the brain/cerebellum, including degenerative diseases, stroke, traumatic brain injury (TBI), posterior fossa tumor, and multiple sclerosis (MS) * ambulatory at initial evaluation or will have functional ambulation goals at initial evaluation (as noted by 10 meter walk test and 6 minute walk test measures documented as 0) * chronicity of injury will be of at least 1 month or greater Exclusion Criteria: * diagnoses that may have cerebellar involvement but without cerebellar ataxia as a principal impairment such as autism, down syndrome, schizophrenia, etc * non ambulatory or who are not able to participate in high intensity stepping training due to cardiac involvement (such as cardiac rehabilitation parameters) or due to orthopedic limitations (such as weight bearing parameters)

Locations (1)

The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Houston, Texas, United States

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Walking Speed in Meters Per Second as Assessed by the 10 Meter Walk Test(10MWT)

Participant is asked to walk a distance of 10 meters and the speed is measured by dividing the distance covered by the time taken.

Time frame: Baseline, 3 weeks

Distance Walked in Feet as Assessed by the the Six Minute Walking Test (6MWT)

Participants will be asked to walk as far as possible for 6 minutes. Longer distance walked shows better outcome.

Time frame: Baseline, 3 weeks

Secondary Outcomes

Ataxia as Assessed by the Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA)

Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA) measures ataxia with a total score that ranges from 0 (no ataxia) to 40 (most severe ataxia). A higher score indicates a worse outcome.

Time frame: Baseline, 3 weeks

Ability to Balance as Assessed by the Berg Balance Scale (BBS)

Berg Balance Scale measures balance with a total score that ranges from 0 to 56. A higher score indicates better balance.

Time frame: Baseline, 3 weeks

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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