Targeted Ankle Proprioceptive Training Improves Balance, Gait, and Functional Mobility in Chronic Stroke Survivors

NCT07420608 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: Ref#: INU/REHAB/XC94
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 140
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability, with balance and gait deficits affecting \>80% of survivors and increasing fall risk. Emerging evidence links ankle proprioceptive impairment-particularly inversion/eversion acuity-to these deficits, often bilateral and central in origin. Cross-sectional studies show strong associations, but causality, temporal progression, and intervention efficacy (especially in severe/non-ambulatory cases) remain unproven. This trial tests a targeted proprioceptive protocol against standard care.

Conditions

Proprioceptive Disorders; Balance; Distorted; Stroke Sequelae

Keywords

stroke; stroke sequelae

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Primary outcome

  Active Movement Extent Discrimination Apparatus for measuring propioceptive acuity

  post-12 weeks, 6-month follow-up. Longitudinal subsample assessed from acute (<1 month) to chronic.

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Secondary outcome

  post-12 weeks, 6-month follow-up. Longitudinal subsample assessed from acute (<1 month) to chronic.

Study Arms (3)

Phase 1 (Weeks 1-4)

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Robotic-assisted sensory discrimination (inversion/eversion, plantar/dorsiflexion; reduce angles, remove visual feedback).

Other: Gait training

Phase 2 (Weeks 5-8)

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Functional weight-bearing challenges (e.g., balance boards, textured surfaces, dynamic tasks).

Other: Gait training

Phase 3 (Weeks 9-12)

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Advanced integration (e.g., gait with proprioceptive cues, dual task)

Other: Gait training

Interventions

Gait training OTHER

Both groups: 12 weeks, 3 sessions/week × 60 min, supervised. Intervention Group (n=70): Progressive targeted ankle proprioceptive training

Phase 1 (Weeks 1-4); Phase 2 (Weeks 5-8); Phase 3 (Weeks 9-12)

Eligibility Criteria

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

You may qualify if:

• Clinical diagnosis of chronic ischemic/hemorrhagic stroke (≥12 months post-stroke)
• Moderate-to-severe lower extremity impairment (Fugl-Meyer LE ≤28 or NIHSS motor leg ≥2)
• Documented ankle proprioceptive deficit (AMEDA AUC \<0.7)

You may not qualify if:

• Acute medical issues (e.g., uncontrolled hypertension)
• Severe cognitive impairment (MMSE \<24)
• Exercise contraindications
• Concurrent conflicting trials

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Iqra National University: lead

Study Sites (1)

IQRA National University

Swāt, Peshawar, Pakistan

Location

Related Links

• data set

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Somatosensory Disorders; Stroke

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Sensation Disorders; Neurologic Manifestations; Nervous System Diseases; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Cerebrovascular Disorders; Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Vascular Diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases

Study Officials

• Ayman Abdullah Alhammad

  Taibah University

  STUDY DIRECTOR

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: Assistant Professor

Model Details: Multicenter, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial (RCT) with 1:1 allocation, assessor-blinded, intention-to-treat analysis. Includes a longitudinal observational subsample for acute-to-chronic proprioceptive changes.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 4, 2026
• First Posted: February 19, 2026
• Study Start: January 1, 2023
• Primary Completion: December 31, 2024
• Study Completion: December 31, 2025
• Last Updated: February 19, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-02

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

PA (1)