Optimizing Gait Rehabilitation for Veterans With Non-Traumatic Lower Limb Amputation

Status: Recruiting
Location: See all (2) locations...
Intervention Type: Behavioral
Study Type: Interventional
Study Phase: Not Applicable
SUMMARY

The population of older Veterans with non-traumatic lower limb amputation is growing. Following lower limb amputation, asymmetrical movements persist during walking and likely contribute to disabling sequelae including secondary pain conditions, poor gait efficiency, impaired physical function, and compromised skin integrity of the residual limb. This study seeks to address chronic gait asymmetry by evaluating the efficacy of two error-manipulation gait training programs to improve gait symmetry for Veterans with non-traumatic lower limb amputation. Additional this study will evaluate the potential of error-manipulation training programs to improve secondary measures of disability and residual limb skin health. Ultimately, this study aims to improve conventional prosthetic rehabilitation for Veterans with non-traumatic amputation through gait training programs based in motor learning principles, resulting in improved gait symmetry and lower incidence of long-term disability after non-traumatic lower limb amputation.

Eligibility
Participation Requirements
Sex: All
Minimum Age: 40
Maximum Age: 89
Healthy Volunteers: f
View:

• Unilateral, non-traumatic, transtibial amputation

• Diabetes mellitus and/or peripheral artery disease

• Able to ambulate in the community without assistive device

• Step length asymmetry during walking (\>1.0 asymmetry index.)

• 6 months since amputation

Locations
United States
Colorado
Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center, Aurora, CO
RECRUITING
Aurora
Virginia
Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center, Richmond, VA
RECRUITING
Richmond
Contact Information
Primary
Cory L Christiansen, PhD
Cory.Christiansen@va.gov
(303) 724-9101
Backup
Ryan Stephenson, DO
ryan.stephenson@va.gov
(303) 399-8020
Time Frame
Start Date: 2019-10-09
Estimated Completion Date: 2026-10-31
Participants
Target number of participants: 54
Treatments
Experimental: Error-augmentation training
A 4-week, 8 session, treadmill-based gait training program, with error-augmentation of step asymmetry delivered on a split-belt treadmill. Each training session will adhere to the same schedule. During the training blocks on the treadmill, the belt under the limb with the shorter step length will be set at 3/4 of the pre-intervention over-ground self-selected walking speed while the belt under the limb with the longer step length will be set to 1/2 of the fast belt speed (2:1 ratio between belts).
Experimental: Error-correction training
A 4-week, 8 session, treadmill-based gait training program, with error-correction of step asymmetry delivered with an auditory metronome signal while walking on a treadmill. During each training block, the metronome will be set to overcorrect stance time asymmetry through use of asymmetrical metronome tones, 2:1 ratio.
Active_comparator: Supervised waking
A 4-week, 8 session, treadmill-based supervised walking program. The active comparator group will participate in a supervised treadmill walking program of the same frequency and duration, to the two experimental groups.
Sponsors
Leads: VA Office of Research and Development

This content was sourced from clinicaltrials.gov