The effectiveness of Robot-Assisted Gait Training versus conventional therapy on mobility in severely disabled progressIve MultiplE sclerosis patients (RAGTIME): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Journal: Trials
PMID: 28241776

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Gait and mobility impairments affect the quality of life (QoL) of patients with progressive multiple sclerosis (MS). Robot-assisted gait training (RAGT) is an effective rehabilitative treatment but evidence of its superiority compared to other options is lacking. Furthermore, the response to rehabilitation is multidimensional, person-specific and possibly involves functional reorganization processes. The aims of this study are: (1) to test the effectiveness on gait speed, mobility, balance, fatigue and QoL of RAGT compared to conventional therapy (CT) in progressive MS and (2) to explore changes of clinical and circulating biomarkers of neural plasticity.

Authors

  • Sofia Straudi
    Neuroscience and Rehabilitation Department, Ferrara University Hospital, Ferrara, Italy s.straudi@ospfe.it.
  • Fabio Manfredini
    Neuroscience and Rehabilitation Department, Ferrara University Hospital, Via Aldo Moro 8, 44124, Ferrara, Italy. fabio.manfredini@unife.it.
  • Nicola Lamberti
    Department of Biomedical and Specialty Surgical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
  • Paolo Zamboni
    Unit of Translational Surgery and Vascular Diseases Center, Ferrara University Hospital, Ferrara, Italy.
  • Francesco Bernardi
    Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
  • Giovanna Marchetti
    Department of Biomedical and Specialty Surgical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
  • Paolo Pinton
    Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, Section of Pathology, Oncology and Experimental Biology, Laboratory for Technologies of Advanced Therapies (LTTA), University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
  • Massimo Bonora
    Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, Section of Pathology, Oncology and Experimental Biology, Laboratory for Technologies of Advanced Therapies (LTTA), University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
  • Paola Secchiero
    Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, Section of Anatomy and Histology, Laboratory for Technologies of Advanced Therapies (LTTA), University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
  • Veronica Tisato
    Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, Section of Anatomy and Histology, Laboratory for Technologies of Advanced Therapies (LTTA), University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
  • Stefano Volpato
    Center for Clinical Epidemiology, School of Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
  • Nino Basaglia
    Neuroscience and Rehabilitation Department, Ferrara University Hospital, Ferrara, Italy.

Keywords

External Resources

Popular Topics
Recent Journals