Impact of Training on Gait and Strength in Stroke Survivors

NCT01818349 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: IRSC-44059
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 30
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Background: A discrepancy between strength gain and gait changes following various training programs aimed at improving gait function after stroke has been noted. A mismatch between the training program and gait parameters could explain this finding. Objective: To evaluate the impact of an isokinetic-strengthening program, matching the requirements of the affected lower-limb muscle groups involved in the energy generation of gait, to a control intervention, on gait performance and muscle strength. Hypothesis: The isokinetic training program of the affected lower-limb muscles would produce greater changes in gait performance and strength than a control intervention not aiming at training these muscle groups. Design: Single-blinded randomized controlled trial. Participants: A convenient sample of 30 individuals with chronic hemiparesis. Interventions: Participants were randomly assigned into two groups (n=15), each training three times/week for six weeks. The experimental group trained the affected plantarflexors, hip flexors and extensors concentrically, while the control group trained the affected upper-limb muscles. Main outcome measures: Baseline values and post-training values, taken at the end of the training program, of maximal voluntary concentric strength, gait speed and peak positive power.

Conditions

Stroke

Keywords

stroke; exercise; muscle strength; gait; rehabilitation

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• change in gait speed

  change in gait speed, in meter/second, was assessed as the difference between the baseline and week #7 values.

  gait speed was assessed at baseline and at the completion of the 6-week training (i.e. week #7)

• change in peak positive power

  peak positive power was evaluated at the affected plantarflexors, hip flexors and hip extensors. Also, change in peak positive power, in weight/kilogram, was assessed as the difference between the baseline and week #7 values.

  peak positive power was assessed at baseline and at the completion of the 6-week training (i.e. week #7)

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• change in maximal voluntary concentric strength

  maximal voluntary concentric strength was assessed at baseline and at the completion of the 6-week training (i.e. week #7)

Study Arms (2)

isokinetic lower-limb training

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

3 times/week for 6 weeks

Other: isokinetic lower-limb training

isokinetic uppe-limb training

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

3 times/week for 6 weeks

Other: isokinetic upper-limb training

Interventions

isokinetic lower-limb training OTHER

concentric training of the affected plantarflexors, hip flexors and hip extensors

isokinetic lower-limb training

isokinetic upper-limb training OTHER

concentric training of the affected wrist extensors, elbow flexors and shoulder flexors

isokinetic uppe-limb training

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• have a chronic (six months or more) unilateral stroke
• be able to walk 10 meters independently with or without a cane
• present residual weakness at the affected lower limb
• have an activity tolerance of at least two hours with a rest period

You may not qualify if:

• receptive aphasia
• incontinence
• unstable medical condition
• history of injury
• anesthesia at the lower limbs

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Université de Montréal: lead
• Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR): collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Institut de réadaptation Gingras-Lindsay

Montreal, Quebec, H3S 1M9, Canada

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Stroke; Motor Activity

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Cerebrovascular Disorders; Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Vascular Diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases; Behavior

Study Officials

• Sylvie Nadeau, PhD

  Université de Montréal

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 15, 2013
• First Posted: March 26, 2013
• Study Start: March 1, 2002
• Primary Completion: December 1, 2005
• Study Completion: December 1, 2007
• Last Updated: March 26, 2013

Record last verified: 2013-03

Locations

CA (1)