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Improving Balance After Spinal Cord Injury Using a Robotic Upright Stand Trainer and Spinal Cord Epidural Stimulation
Sponsor: Kessler Foundation
Summary
The purpose of this study is to understand how standing and sitting balance control is altered after spinal cord injury and how a new type of robotic assistive device may be used with spinal stimulation to improve muscle function. The investigators will be testing a device called the Tethered Pelvic Asist Device (or "TPAD") in this study. The TPAD may be helpful in two ways. It can be used to help control and support of the trunk, pelvis, and knees during stand training. Also, the TPAD can be used as a training tool by providing controlled "pushes" or "perturbations" that must be corrected by the person with spinal cord injury in order to maintain proper posture and upright balance. This could be helpful for improving muscle function after spinal cord injury. Participants will be placed into one of two groups based on availability and preference. Group 1 will receive TPAD training with stimulation and assessments with and without stimulation. Participation in this group lasts approximately 4 months. Group 2 will only receive assessments with and without stimulation. Participation in this group last approximately 3 weeks.
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
18 Years - Any
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
20
Start Date
2024-11-01
Completion Date
2028-01
Last Updated
2025-04-30
Healthy Volunteers
No
Conditions
Interventions
The Tethered Pelvic Assist Device (TPAD)
a light-weight cable-driven robotic stand trainer that (i) can provide assistance-as-needed by applying corrective forces on the trunk and pelvis in response to their movement outside a pre-programmed area, and (ii) can apply controlled forces on the trunk and pelvis to perturb them from their nominal configuration during standing.
Locations (1)
Kessler Foundation
West Orange, New Jersey, United States