ISRCTN ISRCTN17138124
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN17138124
Submission date
14/02/2022
Registration date
03/03/2022
Last edited
03/03/2022
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Other
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data
Record updated in last year

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aims
A stroke is a serious life-threatening medical condition that happens when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off.
Strokes are a global burden. People of all ages suffer from strokes, including relatively young and professionally active people. Post-stroke rehabilitation is multi-directional and long-lasting. There is still a need to search for new methods of rehabilitation of post-stroke therapy that will ensure effective and quick recovery of patients. Thanks to the development of medicine, physiotherapy and biomedical engineering, modern technologies are created and used in the process of post-stroke rehabilitation. However, there is a need for research confirming the effectiveness of therapy with the use of these technologies, as well as the need to improve the methodology of conducting therapy with the use of these devices.
These novel technologies include i.a. stationary gait rehabilitation robots, exoskeletons, treadmills equipped with virtual reality and feedback or treadmills with other various modifications, e.g. systems that unbalance the patient while walking.
The general aim of the study is to obtain knowledge on whether exercise using modern technologies such as the use of a treadmill equipped with virtual reality, biofeedback and balance perturbation systems can contribute to the improvement in stroke rehabilitation.

Who can participate?
Chronic post-stroke survivors over 18 years of age

What does the study involve?
50 patients, who will be randomly assigned to one of the 2 following groups:
1) The experimental group (EG), in which 25 patients will receive treadmill training with controlled body balance perturbations (Balance Tutor; MediTouch, Israel), 6 days a week (Monday to Saturday) for 30 minutes a day, for 3 weeks.
2) The control group (CG), in which 25 patients will receive traditional ground gait training for 30 minutes a day for 3 weeks, 6 days a week (Monday to Saturday).
In addition, all patients in both groups will be subjected to typical post-stroke rehabilitation for 2.5 hours a day, 6 days a week (Monday-Saturday), based on the principles of best clinical practices. The aim of the exercises will be to normalize muscle tone and improve movement patterns.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
It is presumed that the treatment will contribute to the improvement of static and dynamic body balance, quality of gait, postural control and quality of life of stroke patients.
The exercises will be conducted and supervised by physiotherapists. During the exercises, patients will be provided with protection against falls and injuries. The methodology of individual exercises will be planned on the basis of scientific publications in which modern technologies were used safely in post-stroke rehabilitation. Therefore, no adverse events except fatigue is expected in patients. Possible side effects will be noted and, if necessary, the studies will be modified and discontinued, with appropriate notification to the Bioethics Committee.

Where is the study run from?
1. Academy of Physical Education in Katowice (Poland)
2. The Medical and Rehabilitation Center ''Solanki'' in Inowroclaw (Poland).

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
July 2020 to June 2022

Who is funding the study?
The Medical and Rehabilitation Center ''Solanki'' in Inowroclaw (Poland).
European Regional Development Fund for the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, Poland (No. RPKK.01.02.01-04-0016/18).

Who is the main contact?
Laura Piejko
l.piejko@awf.katowice.pl

Contact information

Dr Laura Piejko
Scientific

The Academy of Physical Education in Katowice
72a Mikolowska Street
Katowice
40-065
Poland

ORCiD logoORCID ID 0000-0002-5338-1842
Phone +48 (0)32 207 53 01
Email l.piejko@awf.katowice.pl

Study information

Study designSingle-center interventional randomized controlled trial
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)Hospital
Study typeTreatment
Participant information sheet Not available in web format, please use the contact details to request a participant information sheet
Scientific titleThe effectiveness of the treadmill exercises with controlled balance perturbances in the rehabilitaion of patients with chronic stroke. Randomized clinical trial.
Study objectives1. The perturbance balance training (PBT) carried out with the use of the treadmill Balance Tutor; MediTouch, Izrael will improve quality of gait of stroke patients.
2.The perturbance balance training (PBT) carried out with the use of the treadmill Balance Tutor; MediTouch, Izrael) will improve static and dynamic body balance of stroke patients.
3. The perturbance balance training (PBT) carried out with the use of the treadmill Balance Tutor; MediTouch, Izrael will improve quality of life of stroke patients.
4.The perturbance balance training (PBT) carried out with the use of the treadmill Balance Tutor; MediTouch, Izrael will improve activities of daily living (ADL).
Ethics approval(s)Approved 09/07/2020, Bioethics Commission for Scientific Research at The Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education in Katowice (Mikołowska 72a Street, 40-065 Katowice, Poland; +48 032 2075152; komisjabioetyczna@awf.katowice.pl), ref: 5/2020
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedTreadmill perturbance balance training in modern rehabilitation of patients after stroke
InterventionChronic post-stroke patients, treated in the same Medical and Rehabilitation Center ''Solanki'' in Inowroclaw (Poland) will participate in the study.

After the medical examination and meeting the inclusion criteria, 50 patients will be randomly assigned to the experimental (25 patients) and control (25 patients) groups.
Treadmill training with controlled body balance perturbations (Balance Tutor; MediTouch, Israel) will be administered to patients in the experimental group (EG).
Training with body balance perturbations on the treadmill will be performed 6 days a week (Monday to Saturday) for 30 minutes a day, for 3 weeks.Patients in the control group (CG) will receive traditional ground gait training for 30 minutes a day for 3 weeks, 6 days a week (Monday to Saturday).
In addition, all patients in both groups will be subjected to typical post-stroke rehabilitation for 2.5 hours a day, 6 days a week (Monday-Saturday), based on the principles of best clinical practices.
The aim of the exercises will be to normalize muscle tone and improve movement patterns.
Intervention typeBehavioural
Primary outcome measure1.Gait assessed by 10 Metre Walk Test (10MWT), at baseline and after the 3-week rehabilitation period.
2.Gait assessed by treadmill walking test (Zebris FDM-T; Rehawalk, MaxxusDaum h/p Cosmos Force), at baseline and after the 3-week rehabilitation period.
3.Spatial and temporal gait parameters assessed using the 3D MyoMotion device (Noraxon, USA), at baseline and after the 3-week rehabilitation period.
Secondary outcome measures1. Static and dynamic body balance assessed by Berg Balance Scale (BBS), at baseline and after the 3-week rehabilitation period.
2. Dynamic body balance assessed by Time Up and Go Test (TUG), at baseline and after the 3-week rehabilitation period.
3. Dynamic body balance assessed by Functional Reach Test (FRT) , at baseline and after the 3-week rehabilitation period.
4. Static body balance assessed by stabilometric platform (Zebris FDM-T; Rehawalk, MaxxusDaum h/p Cosmos Force) at baseline and after the 3-week rehabilitation period.
5. Quality of life assessed with Stroke Impact Scale (SIS - 59), at baseline and after the 3-week rehabilitation period.
6. ADL assessed with Barthel Scale at baseline and after the 3-week rehabilitation period.
Overall study start date01/07/2020
Completion date30/06/2022

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupAdult
Lower age limit18 Years
SexBoth
Target number of participants50
Key inclusion criteria1. Women and men over 18 years of age;
2. First history of ischemic or hemorrhagic brain;
3. The period min. 4 months from the onset of stroke;
4. The patient's consent to participate in the study;
5. Ability to understand and follow the therapist's instructions;
7. Ability to walk independently on a distance of 10 m (allowed to use supporting tools such as a cane, crutch or walker);
8. Walking speed at least 0.4 km/h (enabling walking on a treadmill)
Key exclusion criteria1. Contraindications to exercises in the study;
2. Subarachnoid hemorrhage;
3. Neurological diseases other than stroke affecting body balance and gait quality;
Date of first enrolment28/03/2022
Date of final enrolment03/06/2022

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • Poland

Study participating centres

The Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education in Katowice
Mikolowska 72a Street
Katowice
40-065
Poland
The Medical and Rehabilitation Center ''Solanki''
Sienkiewicza 50 Ave
Inowroclaw
88-100
Poland

Sponsor information

Akademii Wychowania Fizycznego im. Jerzego Kukuczki w Katowicach
University/education

72a Mikolowska Street
Katowice
40-065
Poland

Phone +48 (0)32 207 51 10
Email rektorat@awf.katowice.pl
Website https://awf.katowice.pl/en/
ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/05wtrdx73

Funders

Funder type

Hospital/treatment centre

The Medical and Rehabilitation Center ''Solanki'' in Inowroclaw, Poland

No information available

European Regional Development Fund for the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, Poland No. RPKK.01.02.01-04-0016/18.

No information available

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date01/09/2022
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareNo
IPD sharing plan summaryData sharing statement to be made available at a later date
Publication and dissemination planPublication in a scientific journal.
The research will also be disseminated at Polish and foreign scientific conferences
IPD sharing planThe current data sharing plans for this study are unknown and will be available at a later date.

Editorial Notes

15/02/2022: Trial's existence confirmed by Bioethics Commission for Scientific Research at The Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education in Katowice.