Overground Walking Program With Robotic Exoskeleton in Long-term Manual Wheelchair Users With Spinal Cord Injury

Rehabilitation
Bone health
Online since 16 April 2024, updated 249 days ago

About this trial

This trial tests if participation in a 16 week exoskeleton assisted (externally worn powered robotic device)walking program has health benefits. The 16 week walking program consists of 34 moderate to vigorous intensity walking sessions using the exoskeleton. There will be 1 to 3 walking sessions each week. Each walking session will last one hour. ‘Health’ will be measured one month before the walking program starts, at the start of the walking program, immediately after the end of the program and two months after the program is completed. Health features measured include bone health (e.g. osteoporosis), body composition (fat deposition), muscle health (muscle size), hormones that can contribute to diabetes, and fitness. To measure these features, participants will have blood drawn and have two different images (similar to xray and CAT scan) taken.

Included participants

Gender
All
Age
≥ 18 years
Injury level
C6 - T10
  • Severity (AIS)?
  • AIS-A
    AIS-B
    AIS-C
    AIS-D
    Time since injury
    ≥ 18 months
  • Injury type
  • Traumatic

    Non-traumatic

    Healthy volunteers
    No
    C6-T10
    Additionally, participants must
    have a traumatic or non-traumatic spinal cord injury for at least 18 months.
    have a neurological level of injury between C6 and T10.
    use a wheelchair as the main method of mobility post-injury (non-ambulatory).

    What’s involved

    Type

    Rehabilitation

    Details

    Complete the 16 week training program. The program requires 34 visits to the research site, with 1 to 3 visits each week. Each visit requires 1 hour of walking in the exoskeleton at a moderate to vigorous intensity. Several examinations one month before , at the start, and right after the training program, and four months after the training program: dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) to assess the change in bone mass density(similar to xray). peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) to assess changes in muscle size (similar to CAT scan). blood samples to detect changes in blood biomarkers.

    Potential benefits

    Main benefits

    Bone health

    Additional benefits

    General health

    Standing/walking/mobility

    Mechanism of action

    Good to know: Potential benefits are defined as outcomes that are being measured during and/or after the trial.

    Wings for Life supports SCITrialsFinder

    Wings for Life has proudly initiated, led and funded the new version of the SCI Trials Finder website. Wings for Life aims to find a cure for spinal cord injuries. The not-for-profit foundation funds world-class scientific research and clinical trials around the globe.

    Learn more

    • Trial recruitment status
    • Ended
    • Trial start date
    • 14 Mar 2019
    • Organisation
    • Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation of Greater Montreal
    • Trial recruitment status
    • Ended
    • Trial start date
    • 14 Mar 2019
    • Organisation
    • Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation of Greater Montreal

    Wings for Life supports SCITrialsFinder

    Wings for Life has proudly initiated, led and funded the new version of the SCI Trials Finder website. Wings for Life aims to find a cure for spinal cord injuries. The not-for-profit foundation funds world-class scientific research and clinical trials around the globe.

    Learn more