ISRCTN ISRCTN50570295
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN50570295
Secondary identifying numbers R06/A99
Submission date
22/03/2017
Registration date
19/04/2017
Last edited
25/09/2017
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Nervous System Diseases
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aims
A stroke occurs when the blood supply to the brain is cut off. This can cause long term problems with mobility due to the injury to the brain. A major problem for people who have had a stroke is learning to walk again. Physiotherapy is a type of rehabilitation that helps restore movement and function to patients. Physiotherapists help stroke patients to walk using different types of exercises. Sometimes different equipment, such as using a treadmill, can be used to help patients to walk again. This study looks at the feasibility of using a treadmill and the outcomes of relearning how to walk for people who had had a stroke within the last three months. The main aims of this study is to see if a study like this is feasible, to see how to provide treadmill training for stroke patients, see if using a treadmill can help improve mobility when compared to standard physiotherapy patients and to create a larger study in the future.

Who can participate?
Adults over the age of 18 who have had a stroke.

What does the study involve?
Participants are randomly allocated to one of two groups. Those in the first group receive the standard physiotherapy treatment and gait (walking) training. Those in the second group receive the standard physiotherapy treatment three times a week over eight weeks. They also receive at least two gait training sessions that use a treadmill. After the eight weeks, participants continue with their standard physiotherapy treatments without using a treadmill. Participants are assessed before the treatment, right after the treatment and in a six month follow up to assess their mobility.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Participants may benefit from improving their mobility, independence and quality of life. There are minimal risks with participating, such as falling during physiotherapy; however participants are given support by physiotherapists to prevent this.
Where is the study run from?
This study is run by Queen Margaret University Edinburgh and takes place in Astley Ainslie Hospital (UK), St Johns Hospital (UK), the Royal Victoria Hospital (UK) and the Liberton Hospital (UK)

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
October 2005 to December 2008

Who is funding the study?
Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland (UK)

Who is the main contact?
Dr Gillian Baer

Contact information

Dr Gillian Baer
Scientific

Physiotherapy
School of Health Sciences
Queen Margaret University
Queen Margaret University Drive
Edinburgh
Edinburgh
EH21 6UU
United Kingdom

Study information

Study designExploratory phase II single-blind feasibility multi-site randomised controlled trial
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)Hospital
Study typeTreatment
Participant information sheet ISRCTN50570295_PIS_01Nov07_V3.doc
Scientific titleTreadmill Training for people with Sub-Acute Stroke: A phase II randomised controlled trial
Study acronymSTATT
Study objectivesThe aim of this pilot study is to evaluate the effects and feasibility of using treadmill training in people with stroke, within the first 3 months after stroke.
Ethics approval(s)Scotland A Multi-Centre Research Ethics Committee, 16/10/2006, 06/MRE00/82
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedSub-acute Stroke
InterventionParticipants are randomly allocated to either the intervention group or the control group. Randomisation is done after participants undergo baseline measurements using a computer generated minimisation method. Minimisation takes into account the side of the body that the stroke occurred on and whether the participants are ambulant without physical assistance (using the Functional Ambulation category 4-6) or the participants are non-ambulant or ambulant only with physical assistance (Functional Ambulation category 1-3).

Intervention Group (TT): This intervention occurs over eight weeks (or fewer if the participant is discharged from the unit before the eight weeks). Participants in this group receive at least three treatment sessions per week comprising of normal physiotherapy and gait training. At least two gait training sessions include the treadmill. The actual time on the treadmill is determined by the treating physiotherapist. All the time on the treadmill is recorded. After eight weeks, participants in this group reverted back to normal physiotherapy with no further access to the treadmill.

Control group (CON): This intervention occurs over eight weeks (or fewer if the participant is discharged from the unit before the eight weeks). Participant in this group receive at least three treatment sessions per week comprising of normal physiotherapy and gait training. Gait training has no access to a treadmill. The time for the normal physiotherapy is determined clinically.

Participants are assessed for their mobility at baseline, at the end of the interventions (eight weeks) and at a six month follow up. As this is a feasibility phase II randomised controlled trial, data from a battery of secondary outcome measures are collected.
Intervention typeOther
Primary outcome measureMobility is measured using the Rivermead Mobility Index at baseline, eight weeks and six months.
Secondary outcome measures1. Mobility and balance is measured using the Timed Up and Go (TUG) at baseline, eight weeks and six months
2. Gait speed is measured using a 10 metre walk (10mwt), at baseline, eight weeks and six months
3. Walking endurance is measured using a six minute walk test (6minwt) at baseline, eight weeks and six months
4. Confidence in walking is measured using a vertical 10cm Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), patient interviews and following a standardised operating procedure at baseline, eight weeks and six months
5. Motor impairments and everyday motor function is measured using the Motor Assessment Scale (MAS) at baseline, eight weeks and six months
6. Dependence in Activities of Daily Living is measured using Barthel Index at baseline, eight weeks and six months
7. Self reported recovery and quality of life is measured using the Stroke Impact Scale v3.0 at baseline, eight weeks and six months
Overall study start date12/10/2005
Completion date19/12/2008

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupAdult
Lower age limit18 Years
SexBoth
Target number of participantstarget 100
Key inclusion criteria1. Aged over 18
2. Had a stroke as defined by WHO 1988
3. One minute standing balance (with or without support, this was required to allow donning a safety harness if supported treadmill training was required)
4. Medically stable
5. Within three months of stroke onset
6. Able to understand and follow verbal instructions; and
7. Able to give informed consent
Key exclusion criteria1. Co-existing non-stroke related neurological impairments
2. Co-morbidities precluding gait training (e.g. amputee)
3. Non-ambulant prior to stroke
4. Body weight greater than 138kg (Weight limit of equipment)
5. Unsafe to use treadmill
6. Unable to follow simple commands
Date of first enrolment04/05/2007
Date of final enrolment20/06/2008

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • Scotland
  • United Kingdom

Study participating centres

Astley Ainslie Hospital
Physiotherapy
33 Grange Loan
Edinburgh
EH9 2HL
United Kingdom
St Johns Hospital
Physiotherapy
Howden Road West
Howden
Livingston
EH54 6PP
United Kingdom
The Royal Victoria Hospital
Physiotherapy
13 Craigleith Road
Edinburgh
EH4 2DN
United Kingdom
Liberton Hosptial
Physiotherapy
113 Lasswade Road
Edinburgh
EH16 6UB
United Kingdom

Sponsor information

Queen Margaret University
University/education

School of Health Sciences
Queen Margaret University Drive
Edinburgh
EH21 6UU
Scotland
United Kingdom

ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/002g3cb31

Funders

Funder type

Charity

Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland
Private sector organisation / Associations and societies (private and public)
Alternative name(s)
Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland, CHSS
Location
United Kingdom

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date31/07/2017
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareYes
IPD sharing plan summaryAvailable on request
Publication and dissemination planPlanned publication in a high-impact peer reviewed journal and dissemination at conferences.
IPD sharing planThe datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are/will be available upon request from Dr Gillian Baer (Principal Investigator) gbaer@qmu.ac.uk

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Participant information sheet version V3 01/11/2007 21/04/2017 No Yes
Results article results 01/02/2018 Yes No

Additional files

ISRCTN50570295_PIS_01Nov07_V3.doc
Uploaded 21/04/2017

Editorial Notes

25/09/2017: Internal review.
08/08/2017: Publication reference added.
21/04/2017: The participant information sheet has been uploaded.