Feasibility Study and Pilot RCT Into the Use of a Novel Technology to Train Sitting Balance and Trunk Control

Summary

Additional trunk therapy is proven to be effective for improving trunk function and sitting balance. However, conventional trunk therapy is limited by the needed supervision of a therapist and when using unstable surfaces, only a small patient group can profit from this training. Rehabilitation technologies are considered an effective add-on to conventional therapy in order to improve semi-independent training at a high-intensity for a broad type of patients. For the trunk, only few devices exist, mainly used for research purposes and not adapted to clinical needs.

Therefore, a prototype to train the trunk of the patient was developed (T-Chair), in order to train trunk control and sitting balance. After the first usability study with the first T-Chair prototype, it was found that the device was usable and safe but it needed further improvements. Over the past year these improvements have been made. Therefore the goal of this feasibility study is to investigate the usability of the new T-Chair 2.0 prototype, as well as the possible effect the device could have on trunk control and lower extremity function.

To do this, 30 persons in the subacute phase post stroke will be included in the study and randomly assigned to the experimental or control group. Participants in the experimental group will perform in addition to their normal general rehabilitation programme, additional therapy with the T-Chair 2.0, three times per week for four weeks. Participants in the control group will perform their normal general rehabilitation programme. Before training at T0, trunk function, trunk muscle strength, lower extremity function, lower extremity muscle strength, sitting balance, general mobility, cognition and level of neglect will be evaluated. Directly after each therapy session feasibility in terms of demand, safety, handling, acceptance, comfort, exertion of exercises and general feedback will be evaluated. After four weeks at T1, all measurements will be repeated.

Conditions

• Stroke

Interventions

DEVICE

T-Chair 2.0 Prototype

Participants in the experimental group will perform additional therapy with the T-Chair 2.0. Participants can train in two modes. Participants will either train in the active modus, whereby the participant has to move the seat in a certain direction, or in the passive modus, whereby the participant has to stay in a stable position while the seat is moving underneath the participant. The seat is able to move in mediolateral, anteroposterior, and diagonal and combined directions such as circles or eight-figures. The modus, the type of movement, the range of motion and speed of movement are chosen by the therapist according to the patients' abilities.Training will be coupled with a computer based exercise. During the session preparation time, and time for the questionnaires is needed, thus we expect the actual training time to be on average 30 minutes per training.

OTHER

General Rehabilitation Programme

The general rehabilitation program that is offered to all patients of Clinic Valens fits the current standards for treatment post-stroke. This program is tailored to the patients needs and consists of a 90 minute so called "focus training" per day, which includes physical therapy, occupational therapy, resistance training and gait training. According to the patient needs, extra therapy will be given such as robotic therapy, speech therapy and aquatic therapy. The general rehabilitation program in both groups is comparable in content, time and intensity.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• KU Leuven

  collaborator OTHER

• ZHAW School of Health Professions, Institute of Physiotherapy

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• ZHAW School of Engineering

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Jan Kool

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Jan Kool, PhD · Klinik Valens

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2021-04-08

Primary Completion

2022-09-12

Completion

2022-09-12

Countries

• Switzerland

Study Locations