NCT06392945

Brief Summary

The first objective of this study is to examine the superiority of the combined rhythmic auditory cueing with cognitive treadmill training (combined group) in people with stroke as compared with the cognitive treadmill walking training (cognitive group) or treadmill walking training alone (treadmill group) (Aim 1). The study's second aim is to investigate the factors affecting the improvement in community walking capacity after interventions and to explore whether changes in community walking capacity are associated with changes in participation after interventions (Aim 2).

Trial Health

77
On Track

Trial Health Score

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

Enrollment
90

participants targeted

Target at P75+ for not_applicable stroke

Timeline
15mo left

Started May 2024

Typical duration for not_applicable stroke

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
recruiting

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 Progress61%
May 2024Jul 2027

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

April 26, 2024

Completed
5 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

May 1, 2024

Completed
23 days until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

May 24, 2024

Completed
3.2 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

July 31, 2027

Expected
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

July 31, 2027

Last Updated

March 19, 2026

Status Verified

March 1, 2026

Enrollment Period

3.2 years

First QC Date

April 26, 2024

Last Update Submit

March 17, 2026

Conditions

Keywords

strokegait rehabilitationrhythmic auditory cueingcognitive trainingtreadmill

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (4)

  • walking speed (m/s) under single-task walking and dual-task walking with the Stroop task

    Participants will walk 10 meters at their preferred speed with and without the Stroop task twice, respectively. The spatiotemporal gait parameters will be examined using Physilog® sensors (Gait Up, Switzerland) and analyzed by the Gait Analysis Package software on the USB key. Walking speed (m/s) is the mean speed of forward walking, calculated in meters per second.

    baseline, after 4-week intervention, one-month follow-up

  • swing phase asymmetry under single-task walking and dual-task walking with the Stroop task

    Swing phase asymmetry (%) is the ratio of swing which compares the time in the air for the two feet, in percent.

    baseline, after 4-week intervention, one-month follow-up

  • stride length asymmetry under single-task walking and dual-task walking with the Stroop task

    Stride length asymmetry (%) is the ratio of stride length which compares the stride length for the two feet, in percent. A perfect symmetry outputs a value of 0%.

    baseline, after 4-week intervention, one-month follow-up

  • cognitive composite score

    The Stroop task is the commonly utilized dual-task paradigm and measures executive function and response inhibition, which plays a vital role during walking. Therefore, the Stroop task will be selected to assess cognitive dual-task walking. The Stroop task will be performed while sitting and walking to assess executive function under single-task and dual-task conditions. The following is the formula for calculating the cognitive composite score: Cognitive composite score of the Stroop task = \[Accuracy(%)/Reaction time(milliseconds)\] \* 100. The better the cognitive performance of the Stroop task, the higher the cognitive composite score. The instructions for the dual-task walking (walking + Stroop) are designed to encourage neutral prioritization between the two tasks ("walk at the preferred speed while performing the Stroop task as accurately and quickly as you can").

    baseline, after 4-week intervention, one-month follow-up

Secondary Outcomes (6)

  • Task-specific dual-task interference

    baseline, after 4-week intervention, one-month follow-up

  • Automaticity

    baseline, after 4-week intervention, one-month follow-up

  • 6-minute Walking test, 6MWT

    baseline, after 4-week intervention, one-month follow-up

  • Stroke impact scale, SIS

    baseline, after 4-week intervention, one-month follow-up

  • Mini-Balance Evaluation System Test, Mini-BESTest

    baseline, after 4-week intervention, one-month follow-up

  • +1 more secondary outcomes

Study Arms (3)

Cognitive Treadmill Walking Training with Rhythmic Auditory Cueing (CTW+RAC) group

EXPERIMENTAL

The CTW+RAC group will undertake progressive treadmill walking speed while performing a cognitive task with rhythmic auditory cueing (i.e., 110% of baseline cadence).

Device: Cognitive Treadmill Walking Training with Rhythmic Auditory Cueing (CTW+RAC) group

Cognitive Treadmill Walking Training (CTW)

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

The CTW group will receive cognitive training while walking at a progressive speed on the treadmill.

Device: Cognitive Treadmill Walking Training (CTW) group

Treadmill Walking Training (TW)

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

The TW group will train only in treadmill walking with progressive speed adjusted weekly.

Device: Treadmill Walking Training (TW)

Interventions

Participants in the TW group will participate in 12-session programs administered for 30 minutes each session, 3 times per week for 4 weeks. They will start stepping on the ground at comfortable pace for 5 minutes of warm up. Then they will start walking on a treadmill with a target speed only, without concurrent performing a cognitive task and no listening rhythmic auditory cueing. Same target treadmill speed will be used as the other two groups during treadmill walking. The target treadmill speed will be gradually increased from 90% at week 1, to 100% at week 2, to 110% at week 3, to 120% baseline walking speed of comfortable walking on the ground.

Treadmill Walking Training (TW)

Participants in the CTW+RAC group participate in 12-session programs administered for 30 minutes each session, 3 times per week for 4 weeks. To increase adaptability to rhythmic auditory cueing prior to cognitive treadmill walking training, participants are required to keep stepping on their feet while listening to the auditory cueing using a metronome program (Metronome APP) for 5 minutes of warm up. Then they start walking on a treadmill with a target speed and perform a cognitive task concurrently while listening rhythmic auditory cueing. According to previous research, the target treadmill speed at week 1, week 2, week 3, and week 4 is gradually increased from 90%, 100%, 110%, to 120% baseline walking speed of comfortable walking on the ground. The beat of rhythmic auditory cueing using the Metronome APP on the smartphone is set at 110% of baseline cadence of comfortable walking on the ground based on a previous study in individuals with stroke.

Cognitive Treadmill Walking Training with Rhythmic Auditory Cueing (CTW+RAC) group

Participants in the CTW group will participate in 12-session programs administered for 30 minutes each session, 3 times per week for 4 weeks. They will start stepping on the ground at comfortable pace for 5 minutes of warm up. Then they will start walking on a treadmill with a target speed and perform a cognitive task concurrently without rhythmic auditory cueing. Same cognitive training and target treadmill speed will be used as the CTW+RAC group during cognitive dual-task treadmill walking. Three cognitive training programs will be the verbal fluency, arithmetic, and visual distinguish tasks. The target treadmill speed will be gradually increased from 90% at week 1, to 100% at week 2, to 110% at week 3, to 120% baseline walking speed of comfortable walking on the 10 meters walk test at week 4.

Cognitive Treadmill Walking Training (CTW)

Eligibility Criteria

Age20 Years - 85 Years
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • diagnosed with first-time stroke;
  • more than 6 months after stroke onset;
  • able to walk 10 meters;
  • no severe vision, hearing, or speech impairments;
  • understand and follow the instructions and sign the Informed Consent Form;
  • older than 20 years old.

You may not qualify if:

  • orthopedic problems affecting walking or other diseases that may interfere with study participation;
  • a score of less than 24 on the mini-mental state examination (MMSE);
  • severe balance disorder with a total score of less than 45 points Berg Balance Scale.

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

Mackay Memory Hospital

Taipei, Taiwan

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Stroke

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Cerebrovascular DisordersBrain DiseasesCentral Nervous System DiseasesNervous System DiseasesVascular DiseasesCardiovascular Diseases

Study Officials

  • Li-Ling Chuang, Ph.D.

    Chang Gung University

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Li-Ling Chuang, Ph.D.

CONTACT

Li-Ling Chuang, Ph.D.

CONTACT

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
Associated Professor

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

April 26, 2024

First Posted

May 1, 2024

Study Start

May 24, 2024

Primary Completion (Estimated)

July 31, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

July 31, 2027

Last Updated

March 19, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-03

Locations