NCT00561405

Brief Summary

Stroke is a major cause of disability in Canadian adults. Following a stroke, many people have difficulty walking in their home and in the community. The purpose of this study is to compare the effect of two different approaches to walking retraining in people who have had a stroke. Individuals living in the community who have had recently had a stroke will be asked to participate in this study. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two five week walking training programs. In one program, individuals will re-learn to walk in a variety of real-life situations. Practice sessions will encourage active problem solving by the participants. The other program will have participants practice walking on a treadmill while some of their body weight is supported by a special harness system. Participants will also be assisted by a physiotherapist to walk in a more normal manner. Participants' will be assessed at the beginning of the study, after the 5 week training program and again, eight weeks later. The research assistant will assess their ability to walk, their confidence level and the average daily walking activity. Primary Hypothesis: Individuals assigned to the Motor Learning Walking Program will improve their walking ability from baseline to follow up assessment significantly more than individuals assigned to the Treadmill Training Program. The results of this study will help physiotherapists plan effective treatment programs for individuals with walking difficulties following stroke. It will also give researchers direction for future studies in the areas of walking retraining and motor skill development post-stroke.

Trial Health

87
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
71

participants targeted

Target at P50-P75 for phase_2 stroke

Timeline
Completed

Started Dec 2006

Longer than P75 for phase_2 stroke

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
completed

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Start

First participant enrolled

December 1, 2006

Completed
12 months until next milestone

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

November 20, 2007

Completed
1 day until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

November 21, 2007

Completed
3.1 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

January 1, 2011

Completed
5 months until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

June 1, 2011

Completed
Last Updated

September 26, 2011

Status Verified

September 1, 2011

Enrollment Period

4.1 years

First QC Date

November 20, 2007

Last Update Submit

September 23, 2011

Conditions

Keywords

StrokeWalkingMotor learningSkill acquisition

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • Self selected over ground gait speed - 5 metre walk test

    8 week follow up

Secondary Outcomes (12)

  • Six Minute Walk Test

    Post Intervention and 8 week follow up

  • Self selected over ground gait speed - 5 metre walk test

    Post Intervention

  • Balance related Self Efficacy - Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale

    Post intervention and 8 week follow up

  • Average Daily Step Count - StepWatch 3 Step Activity Monitor

    Post Intervention and 8 Week Follow up

  • Dynamic Balance - Functional Balance Test

    Baseline, Post-intervention and 8 week Follow-up

  • +7 more secondary outcomes

Study Arms (2)

Motor Learning Walking Program

EXPERIMENTAL

Motor Learning principles based Walking Program (MLWP) Participants practice variety of real life over ground walking related activities. Order of practice, instructions, guidance and feedback are provided in a manner that facilitates cognitive engagement of learner.

Behavioral: Motor Learning Walking Program

Body weight supported treadmill training

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Body Weight Supported Treadmill Training. Participants walk on a treadmill while partially supported with an overhead harness system. Mass repetition of the normal gait cycle is encouraged through the support of the harness, the movement of the treadmill, and the assistance of one or two trainers to position limbs and trunk.

Behavioral: Body Weight Supported Treadmill Training

Interventions

Motor Learning principles based Walking Program (MLWP) Participants practice variety of real life over ground walking related activities. Order of practice, instructions, guidance and feedback are provided in a manner that facilitates cognitive engagement of learner. Sessions 45 minutes, 3x per week over 5 weeks for a total of 15 sessions

Also known as: Task oriented walking training
Motor Learning Walking Program

Participants practice walking on a treadmill while supported with an overhead harness system. Up to 40% body weight support. Target Treadmill speed 2.0 mph. 1 or 2 Trainers (at least one Physical Therapist plus another Physical Therapist or Physiotherapy Assistant) will help guide participants leg, foot and trunk during treatment. Aim is to practice high numbers of repetition of the normal gait cycle on treadmill. Duration of sessions - 20 minutes of treadmill training within a 45 minute session ( 4 sets of 5 minutes of training with 5 minute rests). 3 sessions per week for 5 weeks. Total of 15 sessions.

Also known as: Treadmill training
Body weight supported treadmill training

Eligibility Criteria

Age40 Years+
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • Stroke onset within previous 12 months
  • Age 40 or older
  • Able to follow 2 step verbal command (English),
  • Able to walk 10 metres without human assistance (may use walking aid)
  • Independent community ambulatory prior to stroke
  • Community dwelling
  • Approval from physician for participation in study

You may not qualify if:

  • Walking speed greater than 1.0 m/s without walking aid
  • Within normal limits on Modified Mini Mental Status test (age and education adjusted)
  • Documented global aphasia
  • Legal blindness
  • Unable to exercise due to the any of the following conditions
  • A recent significant change in resting ECG suggesting ischemia
  • Recent Myocardial infarction (within 3 months) or other acute cardiac event
  • Unstable angina
  • Severe SOB at rest or with activities of daily living
  • Uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmias causing symptoms
  • Severe symptomatic aortic stenosis
  • Uncontrolled symptomatic heart failure
  • Acute pulmonary embolus or pulmonary infarction
  • Acute myocarditis or pericarditis
  • Suspected or known dissecting aneurysm
  • +5 more criteria

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton

Hamilton, Ontario, L8N 4A6, Canada

Location

Related Publications (1)

  • DePaul VG, Wishart LR, Richardson J, Lee TD, Thabane L. Varied overground walking-task practice versus body-weight-supported treadmill training in ambulatory adults within one year of stroke: a randomized controlled trial protocol. BMC Neurol. 2011 Oct 21;11:129. doi: 10.1186/1471-2377-11-129.

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Stroke

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Cerebrovascular DisordersBrain DiseasesCentral Nervous System DiseasesNervous System DiseasesVascular DiseasesCardiovascular Diseases

Study Officials

  • Vincent G DePaul, PhD (c)

    McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
phase 2
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
SINGLE
Who Masked
OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Physiotherapist (PT), PhD (candidate)

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

November 20, 2007

First Posted

November 21, 2007

Study Start

December 1, 2006

Primary Completion

January 1, 2011

Study Completion

June 1, 2011

Last Updated

September 26, 2011

Record last verified: 2011-09

Locations