10 Clinical Trials for Various Conditions
Scoliosis bracing is an effective treatment method for idiopathic scoliosis, but only if worn consistently for many hours a day. Unsurprisingly, brace discomfort is a significant deterrent against treatment adherence. For decades, custom braces for idiopathic scoliosis have been fabricated using one of three materials - copolymer, polypropylene, or polyethylene. The application of the biomechanical principles behind bracing have improved over the years, but the materials have not. The investigators' goal is to expand fabrication options by testing a 3D-printed scoliosis brace with variable flexibility. The aim is to improve patients' perceived brace comfort. After optimizing the brace design, the investigators will collect patient feedback about the design from currently braced participants. These participants understand what a standard brace feels like and will provide impactful feedback.
Stiff-man Syndrome (SMS) is a chronic, progressive disorder of the nervous system. It is associated with painful muscle spasms and rigidity involving muscles of the limbs, trunk, and neck. The cause of the disease is unknown, but researchers believe it may be a result of an autoimmune process. Patients with Stiff-man Syndrome may produce antibodies that attack enzymes required for the normal function of the nervous system. Steroids, plasmapheresis, and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) have been given to relieve some of the symptoms of Stiff-man Syndrome. However, none of these therapies have proven to be significantly effective. This study will attempt to determine the effectiveness of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) for the treatment of Stiff-mann Syndrome. Patients participating in this study will be divided into two groups. Group one will receive 2 injections of IVIg once a month for three months. Group two will receive 2 injections of placebo "inactive sterile water" once a month for three months. Following the three months of treatment, group one will begin taking the placebo and group two will begin taking IVIg for an additional 3 months. The drug will be considered effective if patients receiving it experience a significant improvement in muscle function, mobility, and stiffness.
A handheld surface electromyography device will be tested by clinicians on children with limb hypertonia, and inter-rater reliability will be assessed with and without the device.
Background: - Parkinson s disease (PD) affects half a million Americans, causing slow movements, tremors, stiffness, and trouble walking. Currently, these symptoms are measured by physical exam, but this is unreliable and requires an office visit. Researchers want to study a different way to measure PD symptoms, using a home-testing machine called a QMAT device. It can test how quickly someone moves doing different tasks. Researchers will study how this testing compares to physical exam testing and whether the device can detect changes in PD symptoms over time. Objectives: - To see if a home testing device can be used to evaluate Parkinson s disease symptoms. Eligibility: - Adults at least 18 years old with PD. Design: * Participants will have about 22 clinic visits over 5 years. Each visit will take up to 3 hours. Visits will be scheduled along with visits for another study. * At visit 1, participants will learn to use the QMAT device and how to send testing information to the clinic by computer. The device has a computer screen, some buttons, and some pegs. Participants will get a device to take home and any accessories. * Participants will learn 2 QMAT tests. For one, they will press keys as fast as possible. For the other, they will move pegs into holes. The tests will take a total of about 20 minutes. * Participants will take both tests at home, 2 times on the same day each week, once before their medication, once after. * A study coordinator will monitor the participant s computer data and discuss the at-home testing at the clinic visits.
The purpose of this trial is to study the mood and cognitive effects of deep brain stimulation in Parkinson's disease.
This study will test the accuracy of a new home-use electronic device that measures and records small changes in Parkinson's disease symptoms, such as tremor and impaired movement and speech. The testing is done at home and the results are sent by Internet to the patient's doctor. Detecting Parkinson's disease in its early stages may permit doctors to provide early treatment and slow the rate of disease progression. Patients with early Parkinson's disease (less than 5 years) with rest tremors and bradykinesia (slowness and difficulty of movement) who are not taking medications for the disease may be eligible for this study. Candidates are screened with training and practice in using the home monitoring device over 2-3 weeks. Those who demonstrate proficiency with the device may be enrolled in the study. Participants undergo the following tests and procedures: Baseline Visit Participants' undergo symptoms ratings using the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale and assessments of memory, thinking and depression. At-home testing Participants begin at-home testing with the monitoring device after the baseline visit and repeat the tests weekly for 6 months. The test information is automatically uploaded to a home computer (provided by the study) and sent to the investigators via Internet. The test procedure is as follows: * Introduction questionnaire (1 minute): Participants are questioned about how they are feeling at test time. * Pegboard test (4 minutes): At the sound of a tone, the participant moves eight pegs from the right to the left using their right and then left hand. * Tapping test (3 minutes): At the sound of a tone, the participant alternately presses two buttons with the right index finger and then the left index finger. * Reaction time/movement time testing (3 minutes): At the sound of a tone, the participant moves his or her index finger from one button to the other, first with the right hand and then with the left hand. * Digitography testing (4 minutes): At the sound of a tone, the participant alternates between pressing two keys with the index and middle fingers. * Speech + Actiwatch tremor data upload (7 minutes): The participant: 1) takes a deep breath and says "ahhh" for as long as possible; 2) is shown a picture and, at the sound of a tone, is asked to tell a story about the picture; 3) uploads the tremor data from the Actiwatch (a device worn on the wrist that records tremors). * At specified times du...
This study, conducted at the National Institutes of Health and the Children's National Medical Center, will evaluate how well different physicians agree in how they classify cerebral palsy subtypes based on patient examination. Cerebral palsy is divided into several subtypes, according to the primary underlying muscle abnormality and its distribution and severity. Classification of these subtypes is important for conducting rehabilitation research studies on patients with the same type of abnormality. However, doctors do not always classify cerebral palsy types in the same way. This study will examine methods for improving agreement among doctors in their classification of cerebral palsy subtypes. Children between 6 and 18 years of age with cerebral palsy who can voluntarily move their arms and legs may be eligible for this study. Participants will be examined by at least three doctors or therapists. The examinations take 30-60 minutes. For the examination, a doctor or therapist will do the following: * Observe the patient at rest * Gently move the patient's arms and legs and then have the patient move his or her arms and legs * Check the patient's reflexes * Observe the patient walking, if the patient is able to walk Patients will be asked to remain in the clinic for up to 3 hours while researchers discuss the examination and may be asked to repeat part of the study examination.
This study will provide data for evaluating the psychometric characteristics of the tests assessing cognitive flexibility, including their (1) internal consistency, (2) feasibility and tolerability, their (3) convergent and discriminant validity of cognitive and affective constructs such as those introduced to understand mental disorders, and (4) sensitivity (and correspondence) to individual differences. For these tests to be useful in studying clinical conditions, they must show adequate reliability, validity, and sensitivity in large samples of convenience.
The primary objective of this study is to investigate the effects of a theoretically driven, highly challenging exercise program (balance and strengthening exercises) in reducing fall rate, improving balance and reducing fear of falling in persons with Parkinson's disease. In this pilot, randomized, cross-over study, 32 participants with Parkinson disease will be randomly assigned to either an early start (immediately following enrollment) or late start (3 months after enrollment) multifactorial exercise program which will meet 2 times per week for 1.5 hours over 3 months. The exercise program will consist of balance and strengthening exercises which will be individualized depending on the ability of each participant. Fall rate, balance, walking ability, fear of falling, mood, anxiety, and quality of life will be measured prior to the start, at 3 months and 6 months after enrollment. Subjects will be enrolled for 6-7 months.
This post-approval study will primarily evaluate the long-term safety of the MedStream Programmable Infusion System when used in combination with Baclofen for the treatment of severe spasticity. A secondary objective, to assess long-term effectiveness, based on the observed scores on the Ashworth Scale (rigidity for the lower extremities) and their Spasm Scores over the 36-month follow-up period will also be described.