Using a powered exoskeleton to help people with severe lung disease walk better
Exoskeleton Assist to Improve Physical Performance in Patients With Very Severe Chronic Respiratory Disease
NA · West Park Healthcare Centre · NCT05835271
This study is testing if a special walking device can help people with severe lung disease walk better and longer.
Quick facts
| Phase | NA |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 12 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | West Park Healthcare Centre (other) |
| Locations | 1 site (Toronto, Ontario) |
| Trial ID | NCT05835271 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This study evaluates the effectiveness of a powered hip exoskeleton designed to assist individuals with chronic respiratory disease (CRD) in improving their walking endurance. By reducing the metabolic energy demands of walking, the exoskeleton aims to enable patients to walk faster and further, thereby enhancing their overall mobility and quality of life. The study will involve a series of single-case experiments comparing walking endurance with and without the exoskeleton assist in ventilatory limited patients. The goal is to determine if this innovative device can serve as a valuable tool in pulmonary rehabilitation and community reintegration for those affected by CRD.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are individuals with stable chronic respiratory disease and a modified medical research council dyspnoea score of 2 or higher.
Not a fit: Patients with significant cardiac issues, recent myocardial infarction, or other serious comorbidities may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could significantly enhance the mobility and quality of life for patients with chronic respiratory disease.
How similar studies have performed: While the use of exoskeletons in rehabilitation is an emerging field, this specific application for chronic respiratory disease is novel and has not been extensively tested in prior studies.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * stable chronic respiratory disease * modified medical research council dyspnoea score (mMRC) ≥ 2 Exclusion Criteria: * evidence of cardiac rhythm or circulatory compromise * myocardial infarct within the previous three months * moderate-severe aortic stenosis * uncontrolled hypertension * sustained cardiac arrhythmias * untreated neoplasia * lung surgery within the previous three months * any other predominant co-morbidities or treatments that might influence walk testing * body size outside of exoskeleton fit specifications * skin sores or skin breakdown in the area where the device is worn * a high risk of fracture
Where this trial is running
Toronto, Ontario
- Westpark Health Care Centre — Toronto, Ontario, Canada (RECRUITING)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Roger Goldstein — West Park Healthcare Centre
- Study coordinator: Tom Dolmage
- Email: tom.dolmage@westpark.org
- Phone: 4162433600
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.
Conditions: Lung Disease Chronic, Walking, Exoskeleton Device