Evaluating the Impacts of a Single Session of Robot Assisted Gait Training With a Trexo

Condition(s) studied

Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)

Robot Assisted Gait Training: The Trexo robotic gait trainer will be used to facilitate physical activity in people who cannot walk independently, either at all or without the use of assistive gait aids (ie. walkers or canes). Session length will be determined by the participant's perceived fatigue level (ie. the session will run until the participant feels they want to or need to stop), and will not exceed 1 hour of training time.

Study summary

Early use of robotic gait trainers have shown many benefits, however why these benefits occur and how to maximize them is unknown. There are a few options for how a robotic gait trainer can be used, however, there is not much understanding of how these options impact rehabilitation and compensate for impairments. The investigators aim to evaluate the impacts of as single session of Trexo robotic gait training and the impact of different modes of the Trexo robotic gait trainer. The investigators will evaluate how the different settings impact things like physical activity, walking, brain activity, spasticity, and fatigue. Investigators will arrange for a familiarity and fitting session to start, so that study team members can fit the participant to the Trexo and so that participants can become familiar with the feeling of using the Trexo robotic gait trainer. After the initial fitting sessions, follow up sessions will be completed to evaluate different settings on the Trexo, for example in "endurance" mode (where the robot completes the movements for the participant) and in "strength" mode (where the robot requires some assistance from the participant). Investigators may also test different fitting settings, for example with and without the supportive seat in the Trexo. Only three visits are required (one fitting/familiarity session and two testing sessions), however participants and/or their families may choose to complete more testing sessions if they want to assess other aspects of the training. For example, if the first two testing sessions assessed physical activity, participants and their families may choose to return for further sessions to assess brain activity. The aim of the study is to determine how robot assisted gait training impacts rehabilitation and compensates for impairments, as well as to provide suggestions on how the robotic gait trainer might be improved or modified. This study is exploratory to find out more about how these robotic gait trainers, specifically the Trexo, impacts various aspects of rehabilitation.

Eligibility

Primary outcome measure(s)

• Change in Heart Rate Response to Exercise — Through study completion, an average of 4 weeks.
  We will use the collected heart rate as well as an estimated maximum heart rate (208-0.7\*age) to determine the heart rate reserve (estimated maximum heart rate minus measured resting heart rate). Once the heart rate reserve has been calculated, the measured heart rate throughout the session will be used to determine how much time the participant spent above 40% of their heart rate reserve.

Trial sites (1)

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