This preprint is under consideration at Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation. A preprint is a preliminary version of a manuscript that has not completed peer review at a journal. Research Square does not conduct peer review prior to posting preprints. The posting of a preprint on this server should not be interpreted as an endorsement of its validity or suitability for dissemination as established information or for guiding clinical practice.
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Research Article
Akira Matsushima
Kakeyu-Misayama Rehabilitation Center
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7496-8995
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
Background: Ataxic gait is one of the most common and problematic symptoms in people with degenerative cerebellar ataxia. Intensive and well-coordinated inpatient rehabilitation has been shown to improve ataxic gait. In addition to therapist-assisted gait training, robot-assisted gait training has been introduced for several neurological disorders; however, only a small number of trials have been conducted for degenerative cerebellar ataxia. We aimed to validate the rehabilitation effect of a wearable “curara®” robot we developed in a single-arm study of people with degenerative cerebellar ataxia.
Methods: Twenty participants with spinocerebellar ataxia or multiple system atrophy with predominant cerebellar ataxia were enrolled. The clinical trial period was 15 days. We used a curara® type 4 wearable robot for gait training. We measured the following items on days 0, 7, and 14: Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia, 10-m walking time (10mWT), 6-min walking distance (6MWD), and timed up and go test. Gait parameters (i.e., stride duration and length, standard deviation of stride duration and length, cadence, ratio of the stance/swing phases, minimum/maximum knee joint angle, and minimum/maximum hip joint angle) were obtained using a RehaGait®. On the other days (days 1–6 and 8–13), the participants were instructed to conduct gait training for 30 ± 5 min with curara®. We calculated the improvement rate as the difference of values between days 14 and 0 divided by the value on day 0. Differences in the gait parameters were analyzed using a generalized linear mixed model with Bonferroni’s correction.
Results: Eighteen participants were analyzed. The mean improvement rate of the 10mWT and 6MWD was 19.0% and 29.0%, respectively. All gait parameters, except the standard deviation of stride duration and length, improved on day 14.
Conclusions: The wearable curara® robot has the potential to facilitate gait training in people with degenerative cerebellar ataxia.
Trial registration: jRCT, jRCTs032180164. Registered 27 February 2019 - Retrospectively registered, https://jrct.niph.go.jp/en-latest-detail/jRCTs032180164
Keywords
spinocerebellar ataxia, multiple system atrophy with predominant cerebellar ataxia, rehabilitation, robot-assisted gait training, wearable robot
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This preprint is under consideration at Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation. A preprint is a preliminary version of a manuscript that has not completed peer review at a journal. Research Square does not conduct peer review prior to posting preprints. The posting of a preprint on this server should not be interpreted as an endorsement of its validity or suitability for dissemination as established information or for guiding clinical practice.
Learn more about In Review
Research Article
Akira Matsushima
Kakeyu-Misayama Rehabilitation Center
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7496-8995
Badges
Prescreen
This manuscript passed our Prescreen assessment
Complete author information
Appropriate declaration statements
Potential risks to human health
Prescreen
Peer Review Timeline
CURRENT STATUS: Under Review
Version 1
Posted 19 Mar, 2021
No community comments so far
Editor assigned
On 18 Mar, 2021
Submission checks complete
On 18 Mar, 2021
Editor invited
On 18 Mar, 2021
First submitted
On 18 Mar, 2021
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
Background: Ataxic gait is one of the most common and problematic symptoms in people with degenerative cerebellar ataxia. Intensive and well-coordinated inpatient rehabilitation has been shown to improve ataxic gait. In addition to therapist-assisted gait training, robot-assisted gait training has been introduced for several neurological disorders; however, only a small number of trials have been conducted for degenerative cerebellar ataxia. We aimed to validate the rehabilitation effect of a wearable “curara®” robot we developed in a single-arm study of people with degenerative cerebellar ataxia.
Methods: Twenty participants with spinocerebellar ataxia or multiple system atrophy with predominant cerebellar ataxia were enrolled. The clinical trial period was 15 days. We used a curara® type 4 wearable robot for gait training. We measured the following items on days 0, 7, and 14: Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia, 10-m walking time (10mWT), 6-min walking distance (6MWD), and timed up and go test. Gait parameters (i.e., stride duration and length, standard deviation of stride duration and length, cadence, ratio of the stance/swing phases, minimum/maximum knee joint angle, and minimum/maximum hip joint angle) were obtained using a RehaGait®. On the other days (days 1–6 and 8–13), the participants were instructed to conduct gait training for 30 ± 5 min with curara®. We calculated the improvement rate as the difference of values between days 14 and 0 divided by the value on day 0. Differences in the gait parameters were analyzed using a generalized linear mixed model with Bonferroni’s correction.
Results: Eighteen participants were analyzed. The mean improvement rate of the 10mWT and 6MWD was 19.0% and 29.0%, respectively. All gait parameters, except the standard deviation of stride duration and length, improved on day 14.
Conclusions: The wearable curara® robot has the potential to facilitate gait training in people with degenerative cerebellar ataxia.
Trial registration: jRCT, jRCTs032180164. Registered 27 February 2019 - Retrospectively registered, https://jrct.niph.go.jp/en-latest-detail/jRCTs032180164
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
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