Effects of Gait Training Strategies and Noninvasive Stimulation on Neurophysiology and Walking Performance in Able-Bodied Adults- A Preliminary Study

Status: Recruiting
Location: See location...
Intervention Type: Other, Device
Study Type: Interventional
Study Phase: Not Applicable
SUMMARY

This study is being done to answer the question: What are the effects of electrical stimulation and stepping practice on connections between the brain and muscles? The long-term goal of this project is to develop novel, effective, and personalized rehabilitation protocols founded on an understanding of neurobiological mechanisms that combine electrical stimulation with gait training to improve gait performance in older adults and stroke survivors. The rationale of this project is to explore and generate preliminary data regarding how electrical stimulation-based strategies modulate cortical and spinal circuits in able-bodied individuals. The researchers will evaluate the effects of short treadmill walking bouts or single gait training sessions with and without electrical stimulation on somatosensory, spinal-reflex, corticospinal circuit neurophysiology, and/or gait performance. The study will provide important preliminary and normative data that can explain how brain circuits change with stimulation or stepping practice and inform future rehabilitation studies on patients. The study population is able-bodied individuals.

Eligibility
Participation Requirements
Sex: All
Minimum Age: 18
Maximum Age: 65
Healthy Volunteers: t
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• 18-65 years

• Able-bodied (healthy without any physical disability, neurological, orthopedic, or other medical disorder affecting walking or study protocol participation)

• Ability to walk \>10m overground and for 1 minute on a treadmill

• Ability to follow 3-stage commands and provide informed consent.

Locations
United States
Georgia
Emory University
RECRUITING
Atlanta
Contact Information
Primary
Trisha Kesar, PT, PhD
tkesar@emory.edu
404-712-5803
Time Frame
Start Date: 2024-02-12
Estimated Completion Date: 2026-12
Participants
Target number of participants: 50
Treatments
Experimental: Gait with functional electrical stimulation
Participants will participate in 2 to 5 sessions over 2-8 weeks. Each session will comprise gait or stepping practice on a treadmill with functional electrical stimulation, and non-invasive measurement of neural circuit excitability.~Participants will complete multiple 30-second to 4-minute bouts of walking on the treadmill or overground at speeds ranging from self-selected to fast speeds (faster than comfortable self-selected speed), with rest breaks between bouts. For gait training, participants may complete up to six 6-minute bouts of walking with rest breaks between bouts (30-36 minutes walking).
Experimental: Gait without functional electrical stimulation
Participants will participate in 2 to 5 sessions over 2-8 weeks. Each session will comprise gait or stepping practice on a treadmill without functional electrical stimulation, and non-invasive measurement of neural circuit excitability.~Participants will complete multiple 30-second to 4-minute bouts of walking on the treadmill or overground at speeds ranging from self-selected to fast speeds (faster than comfortable self-selected speed), with rest breaks between bouts. For gait training, participants may complete up to six 6-minute bouts of walking with rest breaks between bouts (30-36 minutes walking).
Experimental: Paired stimulation of the cortex and peripheral nervous system
Participants will participate in a single session of peripheral electrical stimulation paired with cortical stimulation pulses (i.e. paired associative stimulation(PAS)) on somatosensory, spinal-reflex, and corticospinal neurophysiology.
Related Therapeutic Areas
Sponsors
Leads: Emory University

This content was sourced from clinicaltrials.gov