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CompletedNCT03598101TONFITrehaUpdated Apr 21, 2020

TONEFITreha: Proof of Concept and Usability Study.

An interventional study of TONEFITreha in Neurological Disorder and Orthopedic Disorder, sponsored by Reha Rheinfelden. Completed at 1 site in Switzerland. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2020-04-21.

Sponsored by Reha Rheinfelden · Not applicable, Interventional, and Device feasibility

Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
9
Allocation
Not applicable
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

The importance of physical activity and exercise-based interventions in neuro-orthopaedic rehabilitation is undisputed. Yet, patients and clinicians do not implement minimally required doses of physical activity in standard rehabilitation programs. This is partly due to intrinsic factors such as motivation, or due to physical condition that prevent any kind of exercise. In most cases, however, it is owed to limited time spent with therapists who would be able to supervise and apply the required doses to induce any potential exercise effects. Methods to semi-autonomously exercise with high motivation and continuous feedback would complement existing therapies and allow adherence to minimal dose recommendations.

For this study, a prototype of a new portable training solution for intensive walking exercise with built-in sensor-technology and a smartphone interface will be tested regarding its usability and its efficiency in a clinical setting.

02

Conditions studied

  • Neurological Disorder
  • Orthopedic Disorder
03

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  • In-patients with non-specified pathological background
  • At trial centre for at least 2 weeks
  • If less than 4 weeks, willingness to visit clinic for the remaining exercise sessions.
  • Must be able to walk independently (no or minimal gait impairment)
  • Deemed fit for walking group exercise and other exercise (medical expert opinion).
  • Cleared for low-intensity endurance exercise by treating physicians and therapists (medical expert opinion).
  • Informed Consent as documented by signature (Appendix Informed Consent Form).

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Health condition does not allow free movements of body segments (e.g. un-consolidated upper limb fracture)
  • Contraindications to low-intensity endurance training (e.g. congestive heart failure, unstable angina, peripheral arterial occlusive disease).
  • Fresh wounds around waist and trunk.
  • Orthopaedic condition that limits walking ability (e.g. newly operated total hip replacement).
  • Women who are pregnant or breast feeding,
  • Intention to become pregnant during the course of the study
  • Lack of safe contraception, defined as: Female participants of childbearing potential, not using and not willing to continue using a medically reliable double-barrier method of contraception for the entire study duration, such as oral, injectable, or implantable contraceptives, or intrauterine contraceptive devices, combined with mechanical barriers (e.g. condoms or diaphragms) or who are not using any other method considered sufficiently reliable by the investigator in individual cases. Female participants who are surgically sterilised / hysterectomised or post-menopausal for longer than 2 years are not considered as being of child bearing potential.
  • Known or suspected non-compliance, drug or alcohol abuse,
  • Inability to follow the procedures of the study, e.g. due to language problems, psychological disorders, dementia, etc. of the participant (derived from medical history),
  • Previous enrolment into the current study,
  • Enrolment of the investigator, his/her family members, employees and other dependent persons.
04

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Device feasibility
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
9 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Test group

    Device: TONEFITreha

Interventions

  • DeviceTONEFITreha

    The newly developed Tonefit Reha is based on the existing fitness device, the TONEFIT belt. Similar to Nordic Walking, the device aims to include upper limb activity in walking exercise to train the shoulder girdle and arm. While Nordic Walking uses poles, the existing TONEFIT belt uses body-worn resistance handles to actively involve the upper body. It is worn around the waist, like a belt. The two independent pull-push elements with non-adjustable resistance on each side allow increased intensity for strengthening and endurance training during walking, particular for upper extremities and trunk stability.

05

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Usability

    Participants will be asked to rate the perceived usability based on the System Usability Scale (SUS). SUS assesses perceived effectiveness (can users successfully achieve their objectives), information quality (how much effort and resource is expended in achieving those objectives) and general satisfaction (was the experience satisfactory). The SUS hast 10 items that can be rated on a 5-point likert scale. The items will be scored as follows: 1. For odd-numbered items, user response-1. For even-numbered items 5-user response. This scales all values from 0 to 4 (with four being the most positive response). Ref: Jeff Sauro, measuring usability 2. Add up the converted responses for each user and multiply that total by 2.5 (to convert the range of possible values from 0 to 100 instead of from 0 to 40). 3. single missing values are replaced with a neutral 3. Normative values will be used to grade the achieved median score (A through D, with D being least acceptable grade).

    Time frame: 3-4 weeks

Secondary outcomes

  1. Usability: Assists

    Each participant will have a list of tasks to be completed per session. Amount of additional assistance following the introduction (after three supervised sessions), will be counted as outcome. E.g. additional verbal cues or practical assistance.

    Time frame: 3-4 weeks

  2. Usability: Completion rate efficiency [%/s]

    Each participant will have a list of tasks to be completed per session. mean completion rate/mean task time = completion rate efficiency \[%/s\]; e.g. 80% completed all tasks within an average of 360 seconds. Task time: mean time taken before training was started \[s\].

    Time frame: 3-4 weeks

  3. Usability: Goal achievement efficiency [%/s]

    Each participant will have a list of tasks to be completed per session. mean goal achievement/mean task time = Goal achievement efficiency \[%/s\]; e.g. 43% completed in 360 seconds Mean goal achievement: Mean extent to which the tasks were completed \[%\], e.g. 3 out of 7 tasks completed correctly = 43%.

    Time frame: 3-4 weeks

  4. Proof-of-Concept: Measurement of covered walking distance with the built-in sensors.

    Standardised clinical assessment often employed as part of routine assessments will be used. The 10 Meter Walk Test (10MWT) is a performance measure used to assess walking speed in meters per second over a short distance. It can be employed to determine functional mobility, gait, and vestibular function.

    Time frame: At first visit (t+0) and prior to first training 2-4 days after first vist (t+2)

  5. Proof-of-Concept: Gait speed with the built-in sensors.

    A second standardised clinical assessment often employed as part of routine assessments will be used. The 6 Minute Walk Test (6MWT) is a sub-maximal exercise test used to assess aerobic capacity and endurance.

    Time frame: At first visit (t+0) and prior to first training 2-4 days after first vist (t+2)

  6. Proof-of-Concept: Increased intensity during walking (VCO2/VO2 relationship)

    Cardiopulmonary response will be measured using a breath-by-breath cardiorespiratory monitoring system (MetaMax 3B, Cortex Biophysik, Leipzig, Germany) and a receiver board (HRMI, Sparkfun, Boulder, USA). During 10 meter walk test and a 6-minute walk test, oxygen uptake (VO2) and carbon dioxide output (VCO2) will be recorded and reported and VCO2/VO2 relationship.

    Time frame: At first visit (t+0 days) and prior to first training 2-4 days after first vist (t+2 days)

  7. Proof-of-Concept: Increased intensity during walking (heart rate)

    During 10 meter walk test and a 6-minute walk test, heart rate (HR) will be recorded in both conditions (with and without belt). HR will be recorded over a rate belt (T31, Polar Electro, Kempele, Finland).

    Time frame: At first visit (t+0 days) and prior to first training 2-4 days after first vist (t+2 days)

Other outcomes

  1. Experience with walking exercises

    The amount of experience with walking exercise (qualitative, verbal description or as hours/week, if applicable),

    Time frame: At first visit (t+0 days).

  2. General attitude towards technology based exercise:

    - attitude towards technology and the use of sensors (visual analogue scale, VAS, 0 to 100mm, where 0 stands for 'negative attitude' and 100 for 'positive attitude'),

    Time frame: At first visit (t+0 days).

  3. Demographics: Age

    Age in years.

    Time frame: At first visit (t+0 days).

  4. Demographics: Weight and height reported as BMI [kg/m^2]

    Weight \[kg\] and height \[m\] in BMI \[kg/m\^2\]

    Time frame: At first visit (t+0 days).

  5. Demographics: Profession

    Profession (qualitative description)

    Time frame: At first visit (t+0 days).

  6. Attrition

    For attrition, the number of participants lost during the intervention was recorded. For adherence, participants' engagement with the intervention will be assessed.

    Time frame: 3 to 4 weeks after first visit.

  7. Adherence

    Adherence will be calculated as the number of completed training sessions as a percentage of the maximal possible training sessions.

    Time frame: 3 to 4 weeks after first visit.

  8. Exercise diary:

    Training duration and intensity will be derived from the smartphone interface.

    Time frame: 3-4 weeks

06

Study locations

1 site
  • Reha Rheinfelden
    Rheinfelden, Aargau 4310, Switzerland
07

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

08

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT03598101
Lead sponsor
Reha Rheinfelden
Responsible party
Frank Behrendt (Principal Investigator, Reha Rheinfelden) — Principal investigator
First posted
Jul 26, 2018
Start date
Dec 1, 2018
Primary completion
May 30, 2019
Completion
Nov 30, 2019
Last update
Apr 21, 2020

Study contacts

Frank A Behrendt, PhD
principal investigator · Reha Rheinfelden

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
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