Human-like robotic controllers to improve motor learning
Human-like Robotic Controllers for Enhanced Motor Learning
This study is testing if robotic controllers that act like humans can help people with stroke and spinal cord injuries improve their movement skills during rehabilitation.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 764 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 80 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Shirley Ryan AbilityLab Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Chicago, Illinois) |
| Trial ID | NCT04578665 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This study aims to develop robotic controllers that mimic human-like interactions to enhance motor learning in individuals with stroke and spinal cord injuries. It will involve healthy volunteers and clinical populations working in pairs to assess how different interaction conditions and robot behaviors affect motor performance. The study will utilize both an ankle robot and a bilateral lower limb exoskeleton to collect data on movement errors and force adaptations during various tasks. The findings will help create advanced robotic systems that can assist in rehabilitation by replicating effective human interaction strategies.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates include individuals aged 18 to 80 years who have experienced a stroke more than six months prior or have spinal cord injuries, as well as healthy volunteers without neurological disorders.
Not a fit: Patients with acute neurological conditions, severe cognitive impairments, or those unable to participate in physical tasks may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could significantly improve rehabilitation outcomes for patients with stroke and spinal cord injuries by enhancing their motor learning capabilities.
How similar studies have performed: While the use of robotic rehabilitation is established, this specific approach of integrating human-like interaction models is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested in prior studies.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria for Healthy Participants: * Age from 18 to 80 years * No history of a brain and/or skull lesion * Normal hearing and vision, can be corrected * Able to understand and give informed consent * No neurological disorders * Absence of pathology that could cause abnormal movements of extremities (e.g., epilepsy, stroke, marked arthritis, chronic pain, musculoskeletal injuries) * Able to understand and speak English * Height between 3 foot 6 inches (1.1 meters) and 6 foot 2 inches Inclusion Criteria for Participants Post-Stroke: * Age from 18 to 80 years * History of unilateral, supratentorial, ischemic or hemorrhage stroke greater than 6 month * Ability to walk \>10m independently on level ground, allowed to use assistive devices or bracing as needed * Self-selected walking speed is less than 0.8 meters/sec * Medically stable * No concurrent surgeries, medical treatments, participation in research or outpatient therapy * Normal hearing and vision, both can be corrected * Able to understand and give informed consent * Able to understand and speak English * Height between 3 foot 6 inches (1.1 meters) and 6 foot 2 inches Inclusion Criteria for Participants with Spinal Cord Injury: * Age from 18 to 80 years * History of incomplete SCI injury (ASIA C or D) \> 6 months prior * Ability to walk \>10 m independently on level ground, allowed to use assistive devices or bracing as needed * Self-selected walking speed is less than 0.8 meters/sec * Medically stable * No concurrent surgeries, medical treatments, participation in research or outpatient therapy * Normal hearing and vision, both can be corrected * Able to understand and give informed consent * Able to understand and speak English * Height between 3 foot 6 inches (1.1 meters) and 6 foot 2 inches Exclusion Criteria for Healthy Participants: * Weight over 220 lbs * Pregnancy (ruled out by pregnancy questionnaire) * Current presence of wounds or pressure ulcers * Multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease or other neurodegenerative disorder, severe dementia, brain injury, spinal cord injury, or cancer of the central nervous system * History of significant head trauma (i.e., extended loss of consciousness, neurological sequelae) * Known structural brain lesion * Significant other disease (heart disease, malignant tumors, mental disorders) * History or peripheral nerve injury * History of sustained non-prescribed drug use or substance abuse (exception: current nicotine use is allowed) * Prior neurosurgical procedures * Inability or unwillingness to perform study-required activities * Prisoners * Unable to meet SRAlab "MRI Pre-Examination Screening Form" requirements Exclusion Criteria for Participants Post-Stroke: * Weight over 220 lbs * Pregnancy (ruled out by pregnancy test) * Botox (botulinum toxin) injection to lower limbs within the prior 3 months, or planned injection during study period. * Current presence of wounds or pressure ulcers * History of sustained non-prescribed drug use or substance abuse (exception: current nicotine use is allowed) * Reduced cognitive function * Severe aphasia * Prisoners * Co-existence of other neurological diseases (e.g., Parkinson's disease or other neurodegenerative disorder, severe dementia, brain injury, spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, or cancer of the central nervous system) * History or peripheral nerve injury * Severe hip, knee, or ankle arthritis * Recent fracture or osteoporosis * Significant spasticity in the lower limbs (≥3 on Modified Ashworth Scale) * Medical (cardiac, renal, hepatic, oncological) or psychiatric disease that would interfere with study procedures * Inability or unwillingness to perform study-required activities * Unable to meet SRAlab "MRI Pre-Examination Screening Form" requirements Exclusion Criteria for Participants with Spinal Cord Injury: * Weight over 220 lbs * Pregnancy (ruled out by pregnancy test) * Botox (botulinum toxin) injection to lower limbs within the prior 3 months, or planned injection during study period * Current presence of wounds or pressure ulcers * History of sustained non-prescribed drug use or substance abuse (exception: current nicotine use is allowed) * Prisoners * Co-existence of other neurological diseases (e.g., Parkinson's disease or other neurodegenerative disorder, severe dementia, brain injury, spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, or cancer of the central nervous system) * History of peripheral nerve injury * Severe hip, knee, or ankle arthritis * Recent fracture or osteoporosis * Significant spasticity in the lower limbs ( ≥3 on Modified Ashworth Scale) * Medical (cardiac, renal, hepatic, oncological) or psychiatric disease that would interfere with study procedures * Inability or unwillingness to perform study-required activities * Unable to meet SRAlab "MRI Pre-Examination Screening Form" requirements
Where this trial is running
Chicago, Illinois
- Shirley Ryan AbilityLab — Chicago, Illinois, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Jose Pons, Ph.D — Shirley Ryan AbilityLab
- Study coordinator: Jose Pons, Ph.D
- Email: jpons@sralab.org
- Phone: 312-238-4549
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.