Pilot Study Exploring the Effects of Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation on Gait in People With Motor Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: rhythmic auditory stimulation.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Spinal Cord Injury. Basic parameters: from 18 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- United States
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
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Official title
Exploring the Effects of Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation on Gait in Motor Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury: A Pilot Study
Overview
This pilot study aims to evaluate the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a wearable rhythmic auditory stimulation system, MedRhythms, for improving gait parameters in patients with motor incomplete SCI. Up to 15 participants aged 18 years or older with non-progressive SCI will be enrolled. Participants will complete supervised gait training using the MedRhythms device twice weekly during regularly scheduled physical therapy sessions over a six-week period. The device uses shoe-mounted sensors and headphones to deliver real-time individualized rhythmic auditory cues based on the user's gait pattern. Primary outcome measures include change in walking speed assessed with the 10-Meter Walk Test. Secondary outcomes include walking endurance measured by the 6-Minute Walk Test, gait parameters obtained through GAITRite analysis, and participant-reported outcomes including the Walking Index for Spinal Cord Injury II (WISCI II) and the SCI Quality of Life Satisfaction with Social Roles and Activities measure. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline, post-intervention (6 weeks), and follow-up (12 weeks). Findings from this study will provide preliminary data on the feasibility and potential clinical impact of rhythmic auditory stimulation as an adjunctive gait rehabilitation strategy for individuals with incomplete SCI.
Interventions
- Device rhythmic auditory stimulation
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a rhythmic auditory stimulation device (MedRhythms) in improving gait parameters in individuals with chronic, incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI). Participants will train with the device in a supervised, in-clinic setting at Point West Clinic for 6 weeks, completing 2 sessions per week (12 sessions total)
Primary outcome measures
- 10-Meter Walk Test (10MWT) [Time frame: Baseline, post-intervention at 6 weeks and follow-up at 12 weeks]
Secondary outcome measures (1)
- 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) [Time frame: baseline, post-intervention at 6 weeks, and follow-up at 12 weeks]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Age ≥18 years old
- Language: English or Spanish only
- Diagnosis: non-progressive spinal cord lesion; classification as either grade C, D, or E SCI based on American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale (AIS)
- Able to ambulate at least a contact guard assist level
- Time post injury: ≥6 months
- Cadence: minimum 40 steps/minute with clear heel strike
- Able to consent
Exclusion criteria
- Individuals who use an assistive device and are unable to achieve a 2-point walking pattern (left-right-left-right) with an assistive device
- Walks exclusively with a 3-point walking pattern with an assistive device
- Ambulation requiring a knee-ankle-foot orthosis (KAFO)
- Presence of additional neurological or medical processes that contribute to weakness
- Unable to perceive music through the MedRhythyms device
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: No
Study design
- Allocation
- N/A
- Model
- Single group
- Masking
- Open label
- Primary purpose
- Device feasibility
Study locations
United States · 1 center
- UC Davis Point West — Sacramento
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07674927 · 2352022