135 Clinical Trials for Various Conditions
The overall goal of this research project is to investigate the effectiveness and the science of peer-based prosthetic skill training in individuals with leg amputation. Our belief is that amputee learners will show improved skill learning when observing demonstrations from other amputees, as opposed to observing nonamputee models. The investigators will accomplish the objective by answering the following two questions: Question 1: Does peer-based observation training works better for learning motor tasks for individuals with lower limb amputation (LLA)? Question 2: Are there differences in visual focus, behavior, and brain activation patterns when observing motor task demonstrations from amputee peers vs. non-amputees? Participants of this study will be asked to learn a balance and a fall recovery task by observing video demonstrations by amputee peers vs. non-amputees. The investigators will compare which setting produce better learning.
The goal of this study is to determine whether it is possible for people with lower limb amputation (LLA) to perform adapted tap dance, whether an adapted tap dance program would be enjoyable, and whether it may improve balance and balance confidence. There is a lack of research investigating therapeutic interventions for people with lower limb amputation (LLA). Tap dance encourages balance and novel movements of the limbs, while providing auditory feedback from the feet that provide information about the foot's contact with the ground, which may help prosthesis users gain a better ability to understand where their prosthetic foot is in space. As with most forms of dance, tap is usually taught and practiced in a group setting, which encourages community involvement. It has been shown to be safer than many forms of dance due to low impact forces. It also, as a genre, can incorporate canes, chairs and partner work, providing the ability to modify steps/moves when required so that they remain practical, achievable and safe for people with mobility limitations, while still enabling participation. It therefore may be an accessible dance medium to help improve balance, balance confidence, and build community for people with LLA. Participants will be asked to: * come to 1 hour dance classes, once per week, for 8 weeks. * do mobility tests before and after the program * complete questionnaires before, during and after the program. The total time for participation is approximately 8-10 weeks.
Nearly 60-85% of Veterans with amputations experience pain at the location of the amputated limb called phantom limb pain (PLP). PLP is a major problem and can have a profound impact on Veteran's daily function and ability to fully participate in life. Although several rehabilitation interventions are promising, advances in novel rehabilitation interventions are limited. The objective of this project is to refine a mobile app for graded motor imagery in 12 Veterans with amputations and test the mobile app with 36 Veterans with amputations. For this pilot project, the investigators will measure the preliminary feasibility and acceptability of the intervention. Knowledge from this project will provide evidence to guide future larger studies of this graded motor imagery intervention. Developing novel strategies for chronic pain in this population will positively impact quality of life for Veterans with amputations.
Despite recent advances in physical rehabilitation, Veterans with lower-limb amputation have poor long-term outcomes, including severely limited functional capacity and high levels of disability. Such poor outcomes are compounded by a lack of exercise participation over time, even with use of lower-limb prostheses. There is a clear need to advance current rehabilitation strategies to better promote sustained exercise following lower-limb amputation. To address this need, the study will determine the potential of a walking exercise self-management program to achieve sustained exercise participation. The 18-month intervention is focused on helping Veterans reduce habitual sedentary behavior through a remote exercise behavior-change intervention that includes multiple clinical disciplines, individualized exercise self-management training, and peer support. This innovative approach shifts the conventional rehabilitation paradigm to specifically target life-long exercise sustainability and remove an underlying cause of disability for Veterans with lower-limb amputation.
Veterans with dysvascular lower limb amputation (LLA) have a high fall risk, which persists despite completion of conventional rehabilitation. The presence of fall risk could be a primary reason for the high disability and low quality of life outcomes in this Veteran population. A potential novel intervention for this population is to train performance of tasks that require both physical and cognitive attention (i.e., dual-tasking). Therefore, the purpose of this study is to explore relationships between dual-task performance and self-reported falls for Veterans with dysvascular LLA. Further, dual-tasking occurs during everyday life and this project will examine the association between dual-task performance and participation in activities of daily living (basic and instrumental). The results will form the foundation for development and future study of a novel dual-task training program for Veterans with dysvascular LLA.
The primary goals of this pilot research project are a) to design and develop the a mixed reality based system for managing phantom pain and b) to evaluate the feasibility and preliminary functional outcomes of this system in a sample of patients with lower limb amputation. Findings from this pilot study will serve as preliminary data to inform regarding a fully powered clinical trial to determine the effectiveness and practical implementation of these findings in real-world settings. Aim1: Design and develop a feasible mixed reality based system to manage phantom pain in patients with lower limb amputation qualifying for on-going mirror therapy. Hypothesis 1: The investigators hypothesize that the mixed reality based system to manage phantom pain will be feasible and well-received by a sample of patients with lower limb amputation needing mirror therapy. Aim2: Evaluate functional outcomes in a sample of lower limb amputees (n=10), using this mixed reality based system to manage phantom pain. Hypothesis 2: Using this system, the investigators hypothesize that patients who participate in the mixed reality based system will show improvements in functional mobility based on performance evaluations and patient reported outcome measures (PROs). The investigators also hypothesize that this mixed reality based system will help to alleviate the phantom pain based on McGill Pain questionnaire and visual analog scale (VAS).
The population of older Veterans with non-traumatic lower limb amputation is growing. Following lower limb amputation, asymmetrical movements persist during walking and likely contribute to disabling sequelae including secondary pain conditions, poor gait efficiency, impaired physical function, and compromised skin integrity of the residual limb. This study seeks to address chronic gait asymmetry by evaluating the efficacy of two error-manipulation gait training programs to improve gait symmetry for Veterans with non-traumatic lower limb amputation. Additional this study will evaluate the potential of error-manipulation training programs to improve secondary measures of disability and residual limb skin health. Ultimately, this study aims to improve conventional prosthetic rehabilitation for Veterans with non-traumatic amputation through gait training programs based in motor learning principles, resulting in improved gait symmetry and lower incidence of long-term disability after non-traumatic lower limb amputation.
When prescribing a prosthetic foot, clinicians face a dizzying array of choices as more than 200 different prosthetic feet are available. While these conventional prosthetic feet primarily function in the sagittal plane, the intact foot and ankle comprise a complex set of joints that allow rotation in multiple planes of motion. Some of these motions are coupled, meaning rotation in one plane induces motion in another. One such coupling is between the sagittal and transverse planes. For every step, plantar- and dorsi-flexion motion in the sagittal plane is coupled with external and internal rotation of the shank relative to the foot in the transverse plane. There is no prosthetic foot available for prescription that mimics this natural coupling. To investigate the need for this coupling, the investigators have built a torsionally adaptive prosthesis where the coupling ratio between the transverse- and sagittal-planes can be independently controlled with a motor. This research has one specific aim: to identify the optimal coupling ratio between transverse- and sagittal-plane motions using a novel, torsionally adaptive prosthesis for individuals with lower limb amputation. The investigators will conduct a human subject experiment wearing the motor-driven and computer controlled torsionally adaptive prosthesis. Individuals with lower limb amputation will be asked to walk in a straight line and in both directions around a circle while the coupling ratio between transverse- and sagittal-plane motions is varied between trials. Participants will be blinded to the coupling ratio. The investigators hypothesize that: (1) a coupling ratio exists that minimizes undesirable transverse-plane socket torque and (2) there will be a coupling ratio that individuals with lower limb amputation prefer.
The hypothesis of this research protocol is that we will be able to redesign the manner in which lower limb amputations are performed so as to include biological actuators that will enable the successful employment of next generation lower extremity prostheses. The specific aims of the project are as follows: 1. To define a standardized approach to the performance of a novel operative procedure for both below knee (BKA) and above knee (AKA) amputations 2. To measure the degree of volitional motor activation and excursion achievable in the residual limb constructs, and to determine the optimal configuration and design of such constructs 3. To describe the extent of proprioceptive and other sensory feedback achievable through the employment of these modified surgical techniques 4. To validate the functional and somatosensory superiority of the proposed amputation technique over standard approaches to BKA and AKA 5. To develop a modified acute postoperative rehabilitation strategy suited to this new surgical approach
A custom designed Virtual Gait Retraining System (VGRS) is being adapted for balance and mobility rehabilitation in individuals with transtibial amputation. The system is composed of a treadmill that can simulate different environmental situations such as walking up stairs and hills and going around curves. The treadmill is synchronized with an immersive display and an avatar of the user. The combination of variable terrain and visual feedback is extremely promising as a means for amputee patients to achieve improved functional mobility after gait training. The proposed work is relevant to public health because it is the first step in developing a novel rehabilitation system that will use visual feedback for gait training in amputees and others with pathological gait disorders. The research is pertinent to the mission of the Department of Veterans Affairs which is committed to improve the quality of life of Veterans with disability.
Standardized outcome measures can be used to document patient health outcomes and improve treatment of those requiring prosthetic and orthotic (O\&P) services. Though numerous instruments have been developed, existing measures of O\&P outcomes have serious shortcomings including limited evidence that the scores are responsive to clinical changes. The investigators are developing the Prosthetic Limb Users Survey-Mobility (PLUS-M) using modern measurement methods to be a brief, precise and flexible measure of mobility for persons with lower limb amputation (LLA). The investigators propose the following objectives to achieve this goal. Key objective 1: develop a measure (item bank) for measuring mobility in persons with lower limb loss Key objective 2: study health profiles of lower limb prosthetic users Key objective 3: validate the measure in a longitudinal study of people receiving replacement prosthetic limbs Key objective 4: study longitudinal health patterns of persons with lower limb amputation
Phantom limb pain (pain originating from where an amputated limb once was) is a common occurrence after lower extremity amputations, with some sources noting incidence to be as high as 60-80% six months after surgery. This pain can eventually subside, however, cases have been reported of incidence 10 years after surgery. This pain is not only physically detrimental, but can also be psychologically detrimental after a difficult to accept change in the body. Prior studies have been performed using regional anesthetic techniques (including spinals and epidurals) and different medications to attempt to reduce the incidence of phantom limb pain, however, the data have been mostly inconclusive. Of interest, prior studies have not addressed peripheral nerve blocks, a method of anesthesia/analgesia more commonly employed for amputations recently. The purpose of our retrospective study is to look at the incidence of phantom limb pain at our institution over a two year period to determine if peripheral nerve blocks result in a significantly reduced incidence compared to other techniques (spinal, epidural, general anesthesia only). In addition, there is little data on relation of reason for amputation and presence of preoperative neuropathy and incidence of phantom pain. As secondary endpoints, the investigators wish to investigate if certain reasons for amputation (trauma, peripheral vascular disease, diabetes, and others) and/or neuropathy lead to a higher incidence of phantom limb pain. The results of this study could impact future management of patients who are to receive amputations and may lead to further prospective studies on the topics involved.
The purpose of this study is to assess weight change in a population of Veterans with amputations. Little is known about the how weight changes following an amputation. It is widely believed that many patients experience weight gain following amputation. This study aims to identify magnitude of weight changes following amputation and determine characteristics associated with weight gain. Information on weight change trajectories would be useful to better understand long-term health consequences associated with amputation and to design and target interventions to encourage weight maintenance and general health promotion for groups at high risk of weight gain.
The purpose of this investigator-initiated study is to assess the use of liposomal bupivacaine in major extremity amputation and its effects on post-operative opioid narcotic use, length of stay, and in-hospital costs. Liposomal bupivacaine is an encapsulated, injectable amide anesthetic intended for use in long-acting local anesthesia. It has been shown in randomized trials to be effective in reducing post-operative pain while reducing opioid narcotic use and length of hospital stay following several surgical procedures, particularly after total knee arthroplasty. Extremity amputation is a painful operation often performed in seriously ill or debilitated patients, often related to infection, trauma or malignancy. Application of liposomal bupivacaine in extremity amputation is not well described. The investigators intend to enroll adults greater than age 18 years of age who are to undergo major extremity amputation. Patients will receive targeted injections of liposomal bupivacaine during their procedure. Patient pain scores, total opioid use, and length of hospital stay will be tracked. Patients receiving liposomal bupivicaine will be compared to similarly matched subjects who received standard anesthesia regimens without liposomal bupivicaine. The investigators hypothesize that liposomal bupivicaine used during major amputation decreases opioid use, hospital stay, and in-hospital costs.
This is a non-randomized prospective study of 30 patients scheduled to undergo lower extremity amputation (below the knee, through the knee or above the knee) evaluating bone perfusion and viability using indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence imaging at several steps during surgical procedure.
This study is a prospective, multi-center, two-arm, unblinded, and randomized controlled trial with a goal of evaluating the impact of a closed incision negative pressure dressing (PREVENA) on incidence of post-operative wound complications and medical costs in patients undergoing lower extremity amputation.
The LEAP protocol is a prospective cohort study of dysvascular patients designed to determine whether implementation of a multi-disciplinary lower extremity amputation protocol in the peri-operative period can shorten post-operative length of stay in patients undergoing trans-tibial or trans-femoral amputations. A consecutive sample of patients diagnosed with peripheral vascular disease and/or diabetes requiring major lower extremity amputation will be enrolled in the study and compared to retrospective controls.
This study will be a double-blinded randomized controlled trial analyzing all patients who will undergo major lower extremity amputations by the vascular surgery service at University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Fresno between July 2017 and June 2018 to determine if regional nerve blocks (sciatic and femoral) have any effect on postoperative pain control, narcotic requirements, and length of stay compared with standard post-operative narcotic regimens.
The purpose of this study is to pilot test a program to help overweight and obese individuals with a lower extremity amputation (LEA) lose weight and become more physically active. The investigators will randomize approximately 30 individuals to either a self-directed weight loss program (n=15) or a coached weight loss program (n=15). The primary purpose of this pilot study is to determine if a home-based weight loss/physical activity (PA) intervention is feasible in individuals with a LEA. MOVE-LEAP is a 20-week program that involves 11 phone calls from a health coach and a single home visit by a physical therapist. This pilot study aims to: 1. test the feasibility of recruiting overweight/obese individuals with LEA into a randomized trial; 2. assess whether the intervention can be delivered with high fidelity, and 3. evaluate whether the intervention is acceptable to and safe as determined by participant feedback, participation and retention for outcome measures.
To assess the carryover effect of an innovative new gait training program on physiological and functional gait performance in persons with a traumatic lower extremity amputation. A second objective is to clarify the relationship between gait biomechanics (joint and sgment kinematics and energy cost.
People who have had a leg amputated often choose to use a prosthetic (artificial) leg. This study will evaluate a new method of making prosthetic legs for people who have had an amputation below the knee.
The goal of this project is to understand the factors that affect skin temperature (e.g., tissue above amputation site, and opposite foot) in people with amputation and diabetes. This project will also test the effects of 'shock-absorbing' prosthesis on skin temperature responses.
Objective/Hypotheses and Specific Aims: The first aim of this proposal is to determine the effects of commercial prosthetic feet of varying stiffness on stability and falls-related outcomes in Veterans with TTA. The second aim is to determine whether a PFE can be used to predict stability and balance-confidence outcomes with corresponding commercial prosthetic feet. The third and final aim is to determine whether a brief trial of commercial prosthetic feet can predict longer-term stability and balance-confidence outcomes in Veterans with TTA. Study Design: The investigators will use a participant blinded cross-over study with repeated measurements in Veterans and Service members with TTA. Up to 50 participants will be enrolled at each of the two study sites VA Puget Sound and VA Minneapolis. Participants will complete up to 6 visits. After an initial assessment visit, participants will be assigned to the 'high' or 'low' mobility group, and then during visit 2 they will be randomized to use the PFE in three foot modes or the three corresponding actual (commercially available) feet during walking tests on difference surfaces in the laboratory (cross-slopes, inclines, even, and uneven ground). During visit 3 participants will repeat the procedures in the other condition (e.g., PFE if visit 2 included actual feet testing). At the end of visit 3 participants will be fit with one of the actual feet and wear it at home and in the community for approximately one week. At visit 4 participants will be fit with the next actual foot and repeat the 1 week use window. The same process will be followed for the final foot at visit 5, and the study foot will be returned at visit 6.
Previous studies suggest that Veterans with below the knee amputation using passive-elastic or powered prostheses have impaired physical function, which could increase the risk of osteoarthritis, leg/back pain, and diabetes/obesity. Utilization of rehabilitation strategies/techniques such as real-time visual feedback training could restore physical function, increase physical activity, and reduce injury risk. The investigators will systematically determine the effects of using real-time visual feedback training of peak propulsive (push-off) force during walking while Veterans with below the knee amputations use a passive-elastic and battery-powered prosthesis. Similar to previous studies of non-amputee older (\>65 years) and post-stroke adults, use of real-time visual feedback training of propulsive force will likely improve walking function in Veterans with amputations. Such training presents a promising rehabilitation strategy that could reduce comorbidities, while improving quality of life, comfort, and physical function, and advancing rehabilitation research and prosthetic development.
Objective/Hypotheses and Specific Aims: The primary aim of this proposal is to determine whether a PFE can be used to predict foot preference and mobility outcomes with corresponding commercial prosthetic feet in people with a unilateral transtibial amputation (TTA). Secondarily, the investigators aim to determine whether a brief trial of commercial prosthetic feet would be able to similarly predict longer-term foot preference and mobility outcomes with those feet. Study Design: The investigators will use a participant blinded cross-over study with repeated measurements. Participants with TTA will be enrolled at each of the three study sites: two VA sites (Puget Sound and Minneapolis), and one Department of Defense site (Center for the Intrepid). Participants will complete up to 6 visits. After an initial assessment visit, participants will be assigned to the high or low mobility group, and then during visit 2 they will be randomized to use the PFE in three foot modes or the three corresponding actual (commercially available) feet during walking tests in the laboratory. During visit 3 participants will repeat the procedures in the other condition (e.g., PFE if Day 2 included actual feet testing). At the end of visit 3 participants will be fit with one of the actual feet and wear it at home and in the community for approximately two weeks. At visit 4 participants will be fit with the next actual foot and repeat the 2 week use window. The same process will be followed for the final foot at visit 5, and the study foot will be returned at visit 6. Participants' preference, satisfaction and perceived mobility, and functional mobility will be measured and compared across all foot conditions (emulated and actual). After participants complete the procedures detailed above, they may be eligible to be invited to participate in follow-up phone interviews. A subset of participants may also be invited to participate in follow-up biomechanical data collection comparing the PFE foot conditions to the respective actual prosthetic feet during walking. Additionally, a subset of participants may also be invited to participate in follow-up data collection comparing prosthetic foot conditions of different stiffness categories.
The goal of this clinical trial is to identify prosthesis stiffness that optimizes balance control in individuals with below knee amputations. The main question this clinical trial will answer is: • Is there an optimal stiffness that improves balance control for specific ambulatory activities and users? Participants will wear a novel prosthesis assembled with three prosthetic feet with a range of stiffness levels: each individual's clinically-prescribed foot stiffness and ± two stiffness categories. While wearing the study prostheses, participants will perform nine ambulatory activities of daily living (walking at different speeds, turning, ramp ascent/descent, while carrying a load, and while walking on uneven terrain).
The objective of this proposal is to investigate the effects of training to use direct electromyographic (dEMG) control of a powered prosthetic ankle on transtibial amputees'. The aimed questions to answer: 1. whether dEMG control will improve balance and postural stability of amputees, 2. whether dEMG control will lead to more natural neuromuscular control and coordination, 3) whether dEMG control will reduce cognitive processes. Participants will go through PT guided training on using dEMG controlled prosthetic ankles and are evaluated for their capability on functional tasks. The results will be compared with a comparison group, which goes through the same training but with their everyday passive prostheses on balance capability, neuromuscular coordination, and cognitive load during locomotion.
When the prosthetic socket of a Veteran with a lower limb amputation no longer fits or is damaged beyond repair, a new prosthetic socket is warranted. The provision of a new socket requires multiple clinical visits which can place a high travel burden and potential pandemic exposure stress on Veterans who live in rural communities far from VA Medical Centers or alternative prosthetic clinics. This research seeks to determine if one of the in-person visits traditionally needed to obtain a well-fitting prosthesis can be performed remotely with the assistance of a helper. The investigators seek to discover if an untrained individual (a helper) can wield inexpensive, easy to use, digital technology to capture the shape of a residual limb to see if it can be used to fabricate a prosthetic socket that fits at least as well as one fabricated by a prosthetist using traditional, hand casting methods in the clinic. The expected result of this research is an evidence-based prosthetic fabrication process that reduces Veteran travel burden while providing a prosthesis that fits at least as well as the current standard-of-care. The upshot is a clear improvement in prosthetic provision for Veterans, particularly for those who live in rural communities. To make this determination, the investigators will perform a between-subject experiment with two specific aims. To determine differences in goodness of fit between the two study sockets, the investigators will use both patient reported outcomes, and measurements of the pressure applied to the distal end of the residual limb. Specific Aim 1: Determine if patient reported outcomes, by subjects wearing a prosthetic socket whose shape was captured with study helper assistance, are at least as good as those reported by subjects wearing a socket whose shape was captured by a prosthetist. The investigators propose to recruit Veterans with a below knee amputation and their study helpers to participate in a human subject experiment. Participants will be randomly assigned and fit with either a prosthesis made with study helper assistance and digital methods, or one made wholly by a prosthetist using traditional methods. Patient reported outcome metrics will be collected while the subject is still wearing their as-prescribed socket at the beginning of the study (baseline), and again after wearing the study prosthesis for two weeks. Specific Aim 2: Determine if distal end residual limb pressure, measured from a group of individuals fit with a prosthetic socket whose shape was captured with study helper assistance using digital methods, are no worse than those measured from a group of individuals fit with a prosthetic socket whose shape was captured by a prosthetist using traditional methods. Concurrent with the human subject procedures briefly described above, the investigators propose to fabricate duplicates (copies) of the two prosthetic sockets used by each subject in Specific Aim 1. A novel sensor will be embedded in these duplicate sockets which can measure the pressure applied to the distal end of the residual limb. Measurements of distal end residual limb pressure while standing and walking for both the as-prescribed and study sockets will be collected at the beginning of the study (baseline), and again after two weeks. The data from the investigators' experiments will be used to determine if residual limb shape capture by a helper using digital technologies can be used to make prosthetic sockets that fit at least as well as those made by a prosthetist using traditional, hand casting techniques. One third of all Veterans live in rural communities far from VA Medical Centers. When Veterans with a lower limb amputation need a new prosthetic socket, attending in-person clinical visits can be a challenge. If the hypotheses are supported, this research will provide evidence to support the use of digital technology as part of clinical practice, enabling a remote, study helper enabled alternative to one of the in-person clinical visits needed to fabricate a well-fitting prosthesis.
Lower limb amputees (LLA) rely on their prosthetic legs to remain active and lead an independent life. For most LLAs, a well-fitted prosthetic socket is the only option to interface with their prosthetic leg, however, it is a real challenge to make a prosthetic socket to interface with residual limbs accurately. One of the reasons is that there lack of accurate approaches to evaluate the pressure distribution on the residual limb accurately and effectively. To overcome this issue, the research team will develop an innovative sensing system, which permits the prosthetists to track the pressure distribution on the residual limb visually. The capability of the new sensing system will be demonstrated on lower limb amputees.
People with leg amputations often experience daily changes in the size (volume) of their residual limb. These daily changes can cause a prosthesis to fit poorly. They can also cause limb problems like pain or skin breakdown. Prosthetic socket systems that accommodate limb volume changes can help address these issues, but they require users to make adjustments throughout the day. The aim of this research is to create a system that will automatically adjust the fit of the socket and create a well-fitting prosthesis for people with leg amputations who experience volume fluctuations when using their prosthesis.