NT Health Research and Publications Online

Title
Rehabilitation for ataxia study: protocol for a randomised controlled trial of an outpatient and supported home-based physiotherapy programme for people with hereditary cerebellar ataxia.
Publication Date
2020-12-17
Author(s)
Milne, Sarah
Corben, Louise
Roberts, Melissa
Szmulewicz, David
Burns, J
Grobler, Anneke
Williams, Shannon
Chua, Jillian
Liang, Christina
Lamont, Phillipa
Grootendorst, Alison
Massey, Libby
Sue, Carolyn
Dalziel, Kim
LaGrappe, Desiree
Willis, Liz
Freijah, Aleka
Gerken, Paul
Delatycki, Martin
Affiliation
Bruce Lefroy Centre for Genetic Health Research, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
Physiotherapy Department, Monash Health, Cheltenham, Victoria, Australia.
School of Primary and Allied Health Care, Monash University, Frankston, Victoria, Australia.
Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
Bruce Lefroy Centre for Genetic Health Research, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
School of Primary and Allied Health Care, Monash University, Frankston, Victoria, Australia.
Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
Bruce Lefroy Centre for Genetic Health Research, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
Physiotherapy Department, Monash Health, Cheltenham, Victoria, Australia.
Balance Disorders & Ataxia Service, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Cerebellar Ataxia Clinic, Alfred Health, Caulfield, Victoria, Australia.
Monash Medical Centre, Monash Health, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
University of Sydney School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health & Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics Unit, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
Physiotherapy Department, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
Physiotherapy Department, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia.
Physiotherapy Department, Ryde Hospital, Eastwood, New South Wales, Australia.
Department of Neurology, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia.
Kolling Institute of Medical Research, University of Sydney, St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia.
Neurogenetic Unit, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
MJD Foundation, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.
MJD Foundation, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.
Department of Neurology, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia.
Kolling Institute of Medical Research, University of Sydney, St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia.
Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
MJD Foundation, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.
MJD Foundation, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.
Rehabilitation Services, Royal Darwin and Palmerston Hospitals, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.
Rehabilitation Services, Royal Darwin and Palmerston Hospitals, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.
Bruce Lefroy Centre for Genetic Health Research, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia martin.delatycki@vcgs.org.au.
Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
Victorian Clinical Genetics Services, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Subject
neurology
neuromuscular disease
rehabilitation medicine
MESH subject
Adolescent
Ataxia
Australia
Cerebellar Ataxia
Exercise Therapy
Humans
Outpatients
Physical Therapy Modalities
Quality of Life
Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
Single-Blind Method
Type of document
Journal Article
Entity Type
Publication
OrcId
0000-0002-9406-8609
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Emerging evidence indicates that rehabilitation can improve ataxia, mobility and independence in everyday activities in individuals with hereditary cerebellar ataxia. However, with the rarity of the genetic ataxias and known recruitment challenges in rehabilitation trials, most studies have been underpowered, non-randomised or non-controlled. This study will be the first, appropriately powered randomised controlled trial to examine the efficacy of an outpatient and home-based rehabilitation programme on improving motor function for individuals with hereditary cerebellar ataxia. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This randomised, single-blind, parallel group trial will compare a 30-week rehabilitation programme to standard care in individuals with hereditary cerebellar ataxia. Eighty individuals with a hereditary cerebellar ataxia, aged 15 years and above, will be recruited. The rehabilitation programme will include 6 weeks of outpatient land and aquatic physiotherapy followed immediately by a 24- week home exercise programme supported with fortnightly physiotherapy sessions. Participants in the standard care group will be asked to continue their usual physical activity. The primary outcome will be the motor domain of the Functional Independence Measure. Secondary outcomes will measure the motor impairment related to ataxia, balance, quality of life and cost-effectiveness. Outcomes will be administered at baseline, 7 weeks, 18 weeks and 30 weeks by a physiotherapist blinded to group allocation. A repeated measures mixed-effects linear regression model will be used to analyse the effect of the treatment group for each of the dependent continuous variables. The primary efficacy analysis will follow the intention-to-treat principle. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study has been approved by the Monash Health Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC/18/MonH/418) and the Human Research Ethics Committee of the Northern Territory Department of Health and Menzies School of Health Research (2019/3503). Results will be published in peer-reviewed journals, presented at national and/or international conferences and disseminated to Australian ataxia support groups. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ACTRN12618000908235.
Link
Citation
BMJ Open . 2020 Dec 17;10(12):e040230. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-040230.
ISSN
2044-6055
2044-6055
Pubmed ID
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33334834/?otool=iaurydwlib

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