Spinal Cord InjuriesINTERROGAITNCT06531304
Patient-therapist INTERaction During RObotic GAIT Rehabilitation After Spinal Cord Injury
A study testing Lokomat Robot Assisted Gait Training in people with Spinal Cord Injuries, run by I.R.C.C.S. Fondazione Santa Lucia at 1 site in Italy.
Trial summary
INTERROGAIT will disentangle the role of Physical Therapist - Patient (Pht-Pt) interaction in robotic assisted gait rehabilitation in spinal cord injury patients. The study is structured as a single blind randomized controlled trial with two arms, in which effects of different Pht-Pt interaction levels will be… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 85 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Spinal Cord Injuries
- What is being tested?
- Lokomat Robot Assisted Gait Training
- Type of treatment
- Medical device
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 55 participants
- Where
- 1 siteItaly
- Study dates
- 5 Jun 2024to 31 May 2025
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 85 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- incomplete SCI lesion (ISNCSCI AIS level C or D);
- subacute or chronic iSCI;
- traumatic and non-traumatic aetiology;
- SCI at or above T12 level;
- absence of severe cognitive impairment such as to interfere with the protocol.
Who cannot join
- lack of the clinical requirements for using Lokomat;
- anything preventing EEG recording.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Patient-therapist INTERaction During RObotic GAIT Rehabilitation After Spinal Cord Injury: Clinical, Instrumental and Hyperscanning Study.
INTERROGAIT will disentangle the role of Physical Therapist - Patient (Pht-Pt) interaction in robotic assisted gait rehabilitation in spinal cord injury patients. The study is structured as a single blind randomized controlled trial with two arms, in which effects of different Pht-Pt interaction levels will be assessed on the ongoing robotic treatment with the Lokomat device. The main hypothesis is that when Pht-Pt interaction is maximized (experimental group), this will allow to better rehabilitation outcome with respect to a minimun level of Pht-Pt interaction (control group).
Read the detailed description
Gait recovery is a main goal in the rehabilitation of individuals with in incomplete SCI (i-SCI). Modern approaches favor task specific repetitive rehabilitation, with high intensity and early multisensorial stimulation such as the robot assisted gait training (RAGT). The growing interest in robotic therapy has attracted attention to human-robot interactions in the rehabilitation framework, and a consensus is forming on the importance of top-down approaches in rehabilitation, particularly when dealing with robotic devices. The critical aspects of top-down approaches are multifarious and include motivation, active participation, learning skills and error-driven-learning, evidencing the key aspects of feedback (FB) information to guide and improve HRI interactions. These evidences highlight the crucial function of active patient (Pt) involvement and the importance of information that is provided by the physiotherapist (PhT) to the Pt for supporting recovery. Further, Pts who feel engaged in the treatment and receive FB are more adherent to rehabilitation and the Pht can provide reinforcement, giving positive attention, praise, and encouragement for the Pt's effort. PhT-Pt interaction is a key aspect for success in rehabilitation: physical, verbal, and technical exchanges between the PhT and Pt highly influence the outcome. In robotic gait rehabilitation Pht-Pt interaction depends on various aspects which include the amount and quality of information exchanged between Pt and robot and Pht and robot, in a threefold relationship.
Recent data on human-to-human interactions and neural correlates of interpersonally coordinated motor behavior have indicated that cooperative motor behavior engages specific cortical and subcortical areas of the motor system compared with execution of the task alone, promoting the learning of motor strategies to support recovery. Recently, a new conceptual and methodological framework has been proposed to investigate the neural basis of human social interaction: the two-person neuroscience. It focuses on studying the dual exchange rather than only on the individual behavior, by using simultaneous neurophysiological recordings from two or more subjects, commonly referred to as hyperscanning or dual scanning. An approach that can provide a viable way to untangle the social interaction from two-persons data is multiple-brain connectivity (also referred to, in some studies, as hyperconnectivity). Thereby temporal correlations between signals derived from the brain regions of different subjects during their interaction are studied to understand how the brain activity of each subject is correlated to the activity in the brain of the other subject. Inter-subject connectivity was described by fMRI, MEG and EEG studies, the latter allowing for an ecological setting. Furthermore, the use of indices derived from graph theory allows to characterize the multiple brain system by means of its properties. The literature is vast on the effects of RAGT on i-SCI gait performances, particularly on speed parameters. However the impact of Pht-Pt interaction on gait outcome has never been investigated in this context at the time of this proposal. The combination of EEG hyperscanning and multiple-brain connectivity could be a powerful tool to objectively measure the Pht-Pt interaction and put it in relation with the rehabilitation outcomes. INTERROGAIT will explore such context by modulating Pht-Pt interaction during gait rehabilitation with the Lokomat device in iSCI patients.
The main hypothesis is that RAGT performed using the FB provided the Lokomat device with an high level of Pht-Pt interaction can lead to a better functional outcome for Pts, in comparison to a minimum interaction. Moreover, we will provide quantitative assessment of Pht-Pt interaction (EEG hyperscanning study) and seek for correlations between neurophysiological descriptors and clinical outcome, supporting our main hypothesis.
The main aim of this study is to test the effects of maximum and minimum PhT-Pt interaction in RAGT on clinical and functional performences in iSCI subjects, through a single blind longitudinal randomized controlled clinical trial.
Furthermore, the study will be aimed to identify neurophysiological indices derived from hyperscanning EEG data monitoring the establishment and development of Pht-Pt interaction during RAGT and to investigate the correlation between the establishment of a successful Pht-Pt interaction as assessed via neurophysiological indices and psychological variables and the rehabilitation outcome. Aspects related to acceptability and usability of the approaches will be evaluated. In detail for the Pt mood, motivation and satisfaction will be evaluated before (mood, motivation) and after (satisfaction) RAGT sessions by means of Visual Analogue Scales; workload will be evaluated at the end of the training sessions by means of the Nasa-Task Load Index. For both Pht and Pt the empathy and the ability to recognize or express emotion will be assesses before and after the training according to Emotional Response Scale, Impression Scale, Interpersonal Reactivity Index,Empathy Quotient, Assertion Inventory, Responsibility Attitude Scale.
- Conditions
- Spinal Cord Injuries
- Being tested
- Lokomat Robot Assisted Gait Training
- Keywords
- Physical Therapist-Patient interaction; incomplete SCI; RAGT
- Medical subject headings
- Spinal Cord Injuries
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Lokomat Robot Assisted Gait TrainingDevice
Patients will underwent 12 RAGT training sessions (3 times/week for 4 consecutive weeks, 45 min each including the time for wearing the harness and the exoskeleton) with the Lokomat device as add-on to conventional regimen (5 times/week, 80 min each). The Lokomat is a technologically advanced robot-assisted gait training device. Patients are supported in a harness above a treadmill while the robotic device assists the movements of their legs to provide physiological gait. As treatment progresses, weight bearing is increased and assistance from the robotic legs is reduced, requiring the patient to gradually assume greater responsibility for movements needed during walking.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| EXP GROUP | Experimental | Patients will receive visual FB information about the Lokomat joint torque on the screen in front of him/her in order to adapt on-line hips and knees performances. In the EXP group, the Physical Therapist will receives also visual FB information and will guide the patient along the sessions with continuos verbal instructions, thus optimizing the PhT-Pt interaction with an high level of interaction. Patient will be asked to modify his/her hips or knees performances according to both the FB visualized on the screen and the information provided by the PhT. Receives: Device: Lokomat Robot Assisted Gait Training |
| CTRL GROUP | Active comparator | Patients will receive visual FB information about the Lokomat joint torque on the screen in front of him/her in order to adapt on-line hips and knees performances, but the level on interaction between Patient and Physical Therapist will be reduced to its minimum because of no verbal instruction provided by the Physical Therapist to the patient. Consequently, patient will be asked to modify his/her hips or knees performances according only to the FB visualized on the screen, without no technical exchange with the Physical Therapist. Receives: Device: Lokomat Robot Assisted Gait Training |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Changes in 10 Meters Walking Test (10MWT)
Time test for gait speed assessment on short distance. The patients are instructed to walk a 10 meters distance, and the gait speed is calculated.
Measured: Within 24 h before starting RAGT intervention (Pre) and within 24 hours from the twelfth Lokomat session (Post)
Changes in Min Walking test (6MWT)
Time test for gait speed assessment on long distance. The distance covered over a time of 6 minutes is recorded, and the gait speed is calculated
Measured: Within 24 h before starting RAGT intervention (Pre) and within 24 hours from the twelfth Lokomat session (Post)
Secondary outcomes (4)
Changes in Walking Index for Spinal Cord Injury II (WISCI-II)
WISCI-II assess the amount of physical assistance needed, as well as devices or orthosis required, for walking following iSCI. Scores range from 0 (inability to walk) and 20 (patient can walk with no assistance, no aids, no orthoses)
Measured: Within 24 h before starting RAGT intervention (Pre) and within 24 hours from the twelfth Lokomat session (Post)
Changes in Lower-extremity motor scores (LEMS) of American Spinal Cord Injury Association
The LEMS evaluates motor function on a scale that ranges from 0 (no motor function) to 5 (full motor function) for 5 lower extremity muscle groups with a 50-point maximum (25 per side). The key muscles of the lower limbs assessed for LEMS are: hip flexor muscles, knee extensor muscles, ankle dorsiflexor muscles, long toe extensors muscles, and ankle plantarflexor muscles.
Measured: Within 24 h before starting RAGT intervention (Pre) and within 24 hours from the twelfth Lokomat session (Post)
Changes in Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS)
The MAS for spasticity assessment is a 6 points numerical scale that graded spasticity from 0 to 4, with 0 being no resistance and 4 being a limb rigid in flexion or extension.
Measured: Within 24 h before starting RAGT intervention (Pre) and within 24 hours from the twelfth Lokomat session (Post)
Changes in Independence in activities of daily living per the Spinal Cord Independence Measure III (SCIM-III)
The SCIM-III is designed for individuals with SCI and assesses performance in activities of daily living and mobility. There are a total of 19 items, which are divided into 3 subscales (self-care, respiration and sphincter management, and mobility). A total score out of 100 is achieved, with the subscales weighted as follows: self-care: scored 0-20; respiration and sphincter management: scored 0-40; and mobility: scored 0-40. Scores are higher in patients that require less assistance or fewer aids to complete basic activities of daily living and life support activities.
Measured: Within 24 h before starting RAGT intervention (Pre) and within 24 hours from the twelfth Lokomat session (Post)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted31 Jul 2024
- Study start5 Jun 2024
- Primary completion31 May 2025
- Study completion31 May 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (17)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Spinal Cord InjuriesStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 55 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- I.R.C.C.S. Fondazione Santa Lucia
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- University of Roma La Sapienza
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Federica Tamburella, I.R.C.C.S. Fondazione Santa Lucia
- Investigators
- Federica Tamburella, Principal investigator, I.R.C.C.S. Fondazione Santa Lucia
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06531304
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- GR-2019-12369207
- Acronym
- INTERROGAIT
- Status last verified
- May 2026
- First submitted
- 25 Jul 2024
- Last updated
- 5 Jun 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: Clinical and neurophysiological Data (EMG, Kinematic, Kinetic,EEG) will be shared upon reasonable request (anonymized)
Publications
Tamburella F, Moreno JC, Herrera Valenzuela DS, Pisotta I, Iosa M, Cincotti F, Mattia D, Pons JL, Molinari M. Influences of the biofeedback content on robotic post-stroke gait rehabilitation: electromyographic vs joint torque biofeedback. J Neuroeng Rehabil. 2019 Jul 23;16(1):95. doi: 10.1186/s12984-019-0558-0.
PubMed 31337400Belda-Lois JM, Mena-del Horno S, Bermejo-Bosch I, Moreno JC, Pons JL, Farina D, Iosa M, Molinari M, Tamburella F, Ramos A, Caria A, Solis-Escalante T, Brunner C, Rea M. Rehabilitation of gait after stroke: a review towards a top-down approach. J Neuroeng Rehabil. 2011 Dec 13;8:66. doi: 10.1186/1743-0003-8-66.
PubMed 22165907Tamburella F, Moreno JC, Iosa M, Pisotta I, Cincotti F, Mattia D, Pons JL, Molinari M. Boosting the traditional physiotherapist approach for stroke spasticity using a sensorized ankle foot orthosis: a pilot study. Top Stroke Rehabil. 2017 Sep;24(6):447-456. doi: 10.1080/10749357.2017.1318340. Epub 2017 May 1.
PubMed 28460597Koike T, Tanabe HC, Sadato N. Hyperscanning neuroimaging technique to reveal the "two-in-one" system in social interactions. Neurosci Res. 2015 Jan;90:25-32. doi: 10.1016/j.neures.2014.11.006. Epub 2014 Dec 10.
PubMed 25499683Krill AL, Platek SM. Working together may be better: activation of reward centers during a cooperative maze task. PLoS One. 2012;7(2):e30613. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0030613. Epub 2012 Feb 15.
PubMed 22355319Montague PR, Berns GS. Neural economics and the biological substrates of valuation. Neuron. 2002 Oct 10;36(2):265-84. doi: 10.1016/s0896-6273(02)00974-1.
PubMed 12383781Babiloni F, Astolfi L. Social neuroscience and hyperscanning techniques: past, present and future. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2014 Jul;44:76-93. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2012.07.006. Epub 2012 Aug 13.
PubMed 22917915Hari R, Himberg T, Nummenmaa L, Hamalainen M, Parkkonen L. Synchrony of brains and bodies during implicit interpersonal interaction. Trends Cogn Sci. 2013 Mar;17(3):105-6. doi: 10.1016/j.tics.2013.01.003. Epub 2013 Feb 4.
PubMed 23384658Bilek E, Ruf M, Schafer A, Akdeniz C, Calhoun VD, Schmahl C, Demanuele C, Tost H, Kirsch P, Meyer-Lindenberg A. Information flow between interacting human brains: Identification, validation, and relationship to social expertise. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2015 Apr 21;112(16):5207-12. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1421831112. Epub 2015 Apr 6.
PubMed 25848050King-Casas B, Tomlin D, Anen C, Camerer CF, Quartz SR, Montague PR. Getting to know you: reputation and trust in a two-person economic exchange. Science. 2005 Apr 1;308(5718):78-83. doi: 10.1126/science.1108062.
PubMed 15802598Campi C, Parkkonen L, Hari R, Hyvarinen A. Non-linear canonical correlation for joint analysis of MEG signals from two subjects. Front Neurosci. 2013 Jun 14;7:107. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2013.00107. eCollection 2013.
PubMed 23785311Toppi J, Borghini G, Petti M, He EJ, De Giusti V, He B, Astolfi L, Babiloni F. Investigating Cooperative Behavior in Ecological Settings: An EEG Hyperscanning Study. PLoS One. 2016 Apr 28;11(4):e0154236. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0154236. eCollection 2016.
PubMed 27124558Astolfi L, Toppi J, De Vico Fallani F, Vecchiato G, Cincotti F, Wilke CT, Yuan H, Mattia D, Salinari S, He B, Babiloni F. Imaging the Social Brain by Simultaneous Hyperscanning During Subject Interaction. IEEE Intell Syst. 2011 Oct;26(5):38-45. doi: 10.1109/MIS.2011.61. No abstract available.
PubMed 22287939Astolfi L, De Vico Fallani F, Cincotti F, Mattia D, Marciani MG, Salinari S, Sweeney J, Miller GA, He B, Babiloni F. Estimation of effective and functional cortical connectivity from neuroelectric and hemodynamic recordings. IEEE Trans Neural Syst Rehabil Eng. 2009 Jun;17(3):224-33. doi: 10.1109/TNSRE.2008.2010472. Epub 2008 Dec 9.
PubMed 19273037De Vico Fallani F, Nicosia V, Sinatra R, Astolfi L, Cincotti F, Mattia D, Wilke C, Doud A, Latora V, He B, Babiloni F. Defecting or not defecting: how to "read" human behavior during cooperative games by EEG measurements. PLoS One. 2010 Dec 1;5(12):e14187. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0014187.
PubMed 21152069
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 5 Jun 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Patient-therapist INTERaction During RObotic GAIT Rehabilitation After Spinal Cord Injury: Clinical, Instrumental and Hyperscanning Study.
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06531304
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- INTERROGAIT / GR-2019-12369207
- Conditions
- Spinal Cord Injuries
- Keywords
- Physical Therapist-Patient interaction; incomplete SCI; RAGT
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 55 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- I.R.C.C.S. Fondazione Santa LuciaUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- University of Roma La Sapienza
- Study start
- 5 Jun 2024 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 31 May 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 31 May 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 31 Jul 2024 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
INTERROGAIT will disentangle the role of Physical Therapist - Patient (Pht-Pt) interaction in robotic assisted gait rehabilitation in spinal cord injury patients. The study is structured as a single blind randomized controlled trial with two arms, in which effects of different Pht-Pt interaction levels will be assessed on the ongoing robotic treatment with the Lokomat device. The main hypothesis is that when Pht-Pt interaction is maximized (experimental group), this will allow to better rehabilitation outcome with respect to a minimun level of Pht-Pt interaction (control group).
Detailed description
Gait recovery is a main goal in the rehabilitation of individuals with in incomplete SCI (i-SCI). Modern approaches favor task specific repetitive rehabilitation, with high intensity and early multisensorial stimulation such as the robot assisted gait training (RAGT). The growing interest in robotic therapy has attracted attention to human-robot interactions in the rehabilitation framework, and a consensus is forming on the importance of top-down approaches in rehabilitation, particularly when dealing with robotic devices. The critical aspects of top-down approaches are multifarious and include motivation, active participation, learning skills and error-driven-learning, evidencing the key aspects of feedback (FB) information to guide and improve HRI interactions. These evidences highlight the crucial function of active patient (Pt) involvement and the importance of information that is provided by the physiotherapist (PhT) to the Pt for supporting recovery. Further, Pts who feel engaged in the treatment and receive FB are more adherent to rehabilitation and the Pht can provide reinforcement, giving positive attention, praise, and encouragement for the Pt's effort. PhT-Pt interaction is a key aspect for success in rehabilitation: physical, verbal, and technical exchanges between the PhT and Pt highly influence the outcome. In robotic gait rehabilitation Pht-Pt interaction depends on various aspects which include the amount and quality of information exchanged between Pt and robot and Pht and robot, in a threefold relationship.
Recent data on human-to-human interactions and neural correlates of interpersonally coordinated motor behavior have indicated that cooperative motor behavior engages specific cortical and subcortical areas of the motor system compared with execution of the task alone, promoting the learning of motor strategies to support recovery. Recently, a new conceptual and methodological framework has been proposed to investigate the neural basis of human social interaction: the two-person neuroscience. It focuses on studying the dual exchange rather than only on the individual behavior, by using simultaneous neurophysiological recordings from two or more subjects, commonly referred to as hyperscanning or dual scanning. An approach that can provide a viable way to untangle the social interaction from two-persons data is multiple-brain connectivity (also referred to, in some studies, as hyperconnectivity). Thereby temporal correlations between signals derived from the brain regions of different subjects during their interaction are studied to understand how the brain activity of each subject is correlated to the activity in the brain of the other subject. Inter-subject connectivity was described by fMRI, MEG and EEG studies, the latter allowing for an ecological setting. Furthermore, the use of indices derived from graph theory allows to characterize the multiple brain system by means of its properties. The literature is vast on the effects of RAGT on i-SCI gait performances, particularly on speed parameters. However the impact of Pht-Pt interaction on gait outcome has never been investigated in this context at the time of this proposal. The combination of EEG hyperscanning and multiple-brain connectivity could be a powerful tool to objectively measure the Pht-Pt interaction and put it in relation with the rehabilitation outcomes. INTERROGAIT will explore such context by modulating Pht-Pt interaction during gait rehabilitation with the Lokomat device in iSCI patients.
The main hypothesis is that RAGT performed using the FB provided the Lokomat device with an high level of Pht-Pt interaction can lead to a better functional outcome for Pts, in comparison to a minimum interaction. Moreover, we will provide quantitative assessment of Pht-Pt interaction (EEG hyperscanning study) and seek for correlations between neurophysiological descriptors and clinical outcome, supporting our main hypothesis.
The main aim of this study is to test the effects of maximum and minimum PhT-Pt interaction in RAGT on clinical and functional performences in iSCI subjects, through a single blind longitudinal randomized controlled clinical trial.
Furthermore, the study will be aimed to identify neurophysiological indices derived from hyperscanning EEG data monitoring the establishment and development of Pht-Pt interaction during RAGT and to investigate the correlation between the establishment of a successful Pht-Pt interaction as assessed via neurophysiological indices and psychological variables and the rehabilitation outcome. Aspects related to acceptability and usability of the approaches will be evaluated. In detail for the Pt mood, motivation and satisfaction will be evaluated before (mood, motivation) and after (satisfaction) RAGT sessions by means of Visual Analogue Scales; workload will be evaluated at the end of the training sessions by means of the Nasa-Task Load Index. For both Pht and Pt the empathy and the ability to recognize or express emotion will be assesses before and after the training according to Emotional Response Scale, Impression Scale, Interpersonal Reactivity Index,Empathy Quotient, Assertion Inventory, Responsibility Attitude Scale.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| EXP GROUP | Experimental | Device: Lokomat Robot Assisted Gait TrainingPatients will receive visual FB information about the Lokomat joint torque on the screen in front of him/her in order to adapt on-line hips and knees performances. In the EXP group, the Physical Therapist will receives also visual FB information and will guide the patient along the sessions with continuos verbal instructions, thus optimizing the PhT-Pt interaction with an high level of interaction. Patient will be asked to modify his/her hips or knees performances according to both the FB visualized on the screen and the information provided by the PhT. |
| CTRL GROUP | Active comparator | Device: Lokomat Robot Assisted Gait TrainingPatients will receive visual FB information about the Lokomat joint torque on the screen in front of him/her in order to adapt on-line hips and knees performances, but the level on interaction between Patient and Physical Therapist will be reduced to its minimum because of no verbal instruction provided by the Physical Therapist to the patient. Consequently, patient will be asked to modify his/her hips or knees performances according only to the FB visualized on the screen, without no technical exchange with the Physical Therapist. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 85 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- incomplete SCI lesion (ISNCSCI AIS level C or D);
- subacute or chronic iSCI;
- traumatic and non-traumatic aetiology;
- SCI at or above T12 level;
- absence of severe cognitive impairment such as to interfere with the protocol.
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- lack of the clinical requirements for using Lokomat;
- anything preventing EEG recording.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Lokomat Robot Assisted Gait TrainingPatients will underwent 12 RAGT training sessions (3 times/week for 4 consecutive weeks, 45 min each including the time for wearing the harness and the exoskeleton) with the Lokomat device as add-on to conventional regimen (5 times/week, 80 min each). The Lokomat is a technologically advanced robot-assisted gait training device. Patients are supported in a harness above a treadmill while the robotic device assists the movements of their legs to provide physiological gait. As treatment progresses, weight bearing is increased and assistance from the robotic legs is reduced, requiring the patient to gradually assume greater responsibility for movements needed during walking. | Device | CTRL GROUP, EXP GROUP |
Primary outcome
Changes in 10 Meters Walking Test (10MWT)
Time frame: Within 24 h before starting RAGT intervention (Pre) and within 24 hours from the twelfth Lokomat session (Post)
Time test for gait speed assessment on short distance. The patients are instructed to walk a 10 meters distance, and the gait speed is calculated.
Changes in Min Walking test (6MWT)
Time frame: Within 24 h before starting RAGT intervention (Pre) and within 24 hours from the twelfth Lokomat session (Post)
Time test for gait speed assessment on long distance. The distance covered over a time of 6 minutes is recorded, and the gait speed is calculated
4 secondary outcomes
Changes in Walking Index for Spinal Cord Injury II (WISCI-II)
Time frame: Within 24 h before starting RAGT intervention (Pre) and within 24 hours from the twelfth Lokomat session (Post)
Changes in Lower-extremity motor scores (LEMS) of American Spinal Cord Injury Association
Time frame: Within 24 h before starting RAGT intervention (Pre) and within 24 hours from the twelfth Lokomat session (Post)
Changes in Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS)
Time frame: Within 24 h before starting RAGT intervention (Pre) and within 24 hours from the twelfth Lokomat session (Post)
Changes in Independence in activities of daily living per the Spinal Cord Independence Measure III (SCIM-III)
Time frame: Within 24 h before starting RAGT intervention (Pre) and within 24 hours from the twelfth Lokomat session (Post)
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 5 Jun 2026.
- Background: PubMed 31337400Tamburella F, Moreno JC, Herrera Valenzuela DS, Pisotta I, Iosa M, Cincotti F, Mattia D, Pons JL, Molinari M. Influences of the biofeedback content on robotic post-stroke gait rehabilitation: electromyographic vs joint torque biofeedback. J Neuroeng Rehabil. 2019 Jul 23;16(1):95. doi: 10.1186/s12984-019-0558-0.
- Background: PubMed 22165907Belda-Lois JM, Mena-del Horno S, Bermejo-Bosch I, Moreno JC, Pons JL, Farina D, Iosa M, Molinari M, Tamburella F, Ramos A, Caria A, Solis-Escalante T, Brunner C, Rea M. Rehabilitation of gait after stroke: a review towards a top-down approach. J Neuroeng Rehabil. 2011 Dec 13;8:66. doi: 10.1186/1743-0003-8-66.
- Background: PubMed 28460597Tamburella F, Moreno JC, Iosa M, Pisotta I, Cincotti F, Mattia D, Pons JL, Molinari M. Boosting the traditional physiotherapist approach for stroke spasticity using a sensorized ankle foot orthosis: a pilot study. Top Stroke Rehabil. 2017 Sep;24(6):447-456. doi: 10.1080/10749357.2017.1318340. Epub 2017 May 1.
- Background: PubMed 25499683Koike T, Tanabe HC, Sadato N. Hyperscanning neuroimaging technique to reveal the "two-in-one" system in social interactions. Neurosci Res. 2015 Jan;90:25-32. doi: 10.1016/j.neures.2014.11.006. Epub 2014 Dec 10.
- Background: PubMed 22355319Krill AL, Platek SM. Working together may be better: activation of reward centers during a cooperative maze task. PLoS One. 2012;7(2):e30613. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0030613. Epub 2012 Feb 15.
- Background: PubMed 12383781Montague PR, Berns GS. Neural economics and the biological substrates of valuation. Neuron. 2002 Oct 10;36(2):265-84. doi: 10.1016/s0896-6273(02)00974-1.
- Background: PubMed 22917915Babiloni F, Astolfi L. Social neuroscience and hyperscanning techniques: past, present and future. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2014 Jul;44:76-93. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2012.07.006. Epub 2012 Aug 13.
- Background: PubMed 23384658Hari R, Himberg T, Nummenmaa L, Hamalainen M, Parkkonen L. Synchrony of brains and bodies during implicit interpersonal interaction. Trends Cogn Sci. 2013 Mar;17(3):105-6. doi: 10.1016/j.tics.2013.01.003. Epub 2013 Feb 4.
- Background: PubMed 25848050Bilek E, Ruf M, Schafer A, Akdeniz C, Calhoun VD, Schmahl C, Demanuele C, Tost H, Kirsch P, Meyer-Lindenberg A. Information flow between interacting human brains: Identification, validation, and relationship to social expertise. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2015 Apr 21;112(16):5207-12. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1421831112. Epub 2015 Apr 6.
- Background: PubMed 15802598King-Casas B, Tomlin D, Anen C, Camerer CF, Quartz SR, Montague PR. Getting to know you: reputation and trust in a two-person economic exchange. Science. 2005 Apr 1;308(5718):78-83. doi: 10.1126/science.1108062.
- Background: PubMed 23785311Campi C, Parkkonen L, Hari R, Hyvarinen A. Non-linear canonical correlation for joint analysis of MEG signals from two subjects. Front Neurosci. 2013 Jun 14;7:107. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2013.00107. eCollection 2013.
- Background: PubMed 27124558Toppi J, Borghini G, Petti M, He EJ, De Giusti V, He B, Astolfi L, Babiloni F. Investigating Cooperative Behavior in Ecological Settings: An EEG Hyperscanning Study. PLoS One. 2016 Apr 28;11(4):e0154236. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0154236. eCollection 2016.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. Clinical and neurophysiological Data (EMG, Kinematic, Kinetic,EEG) will be shared upon reasonable request (anonymized)
Related trials for Spinal Cord Injuries
Recruiting
MyHand-SCI: An Active Hand Orthosis for Spinal Cord Injury
Spinal Cord Injuries, Tetraplegia
Recruiting
Clinical Outcome Assessment for AT & BCI
Spinal Cord Injury, ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis)
Recruiting
Transcutaneous Spinal Cord Stimulation Combined With 4-Aminopyridine and Intensive Rehabilitation in SCI
Spinal Cord Injuries
Not yet recruiting
Evaluating the Effect of the Zeen Mobility Device on Clinical Practicality, Safety, and Impact (Via Assessments of Walking, Standing Tolerance, Balance, Endurance, Effort, and Participation in Daily Tasks) in an Outpatient Rehabilitation Setting for Individuals With Mobility Impairments.
Stroke, Parkinson's Disease (PD)
RecruitingPhase 3
A Trial Investigating the Efficacy and Safety of NVG-291 in Subjects With Chronic Spinal Cord Injury
Chronic Spinal Cord Injury
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Federica Tamburella principal investigator
I.R.C.C.S. Fondazione Santa Lucia
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Lokomat Robot Assisted Gait Training in people with Spinal Cord Injuries, run by I.R.C.C.S. Fondazione Santa Lucia at 1 site in Italy.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 2 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 5 Jun 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Italy. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Changes in 10 Meters Walking Test (10MWT) (time frame: Within 24 h before starting RAGT intervention (Pre) and within 24 hours from the twelfth Lokomat session (Post)). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT06531304, which also lists 17 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 5 Jun 2026.