Studying Fatigue and Movement After Stroke

NCT07594938 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: NMF_STROKE_FWO
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 120
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

The goal of this observational study is to learn how neuromuscular fatigue develops after stroke and how changes in brain activity, muscle activity, and their interaction contribute to reduced motor performance in stroke survivors compared to healthy individuals. The study will include adults with a first-ever stroke in the subacute phase and age-matched healthy volunteers. The main questions it aims to answer are:

• How does neuromuscular fatigue develop during repeated muscle contractions after stroke compared to healthy individuals?
• How do brain activity, muscle activity, and brain-muscle interaction change during fatigue after stroke? Researchers will compare stroke participants and healthy control participants to determine whether fatigue-related changes are more strongly associated with altered brain activity, altered muscle activity, or disrupted brain-muscle communication after stroke. Participants will:
• Perform repeated leg muscle contractions until fatigue while seated in an experimental setup
• Wear non-invasive sensors to record brain activity (EEG) and muscle activity (EMG) during the task
• Complete the study during a single experimental session in which fatigue-related changes will be measured throughout the task

Conditions

Stroke; Cerebro-vascular Accident; Hemorrhage Stroke; Ischemia Stroke

Keywords

fatigue; electroencephalography; EEG; electromyography; EMG; stroke

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Absolute and relative spectral power and ERD/ERS magnitude

  Fatigue-related changes in sensorimotor cortical activity will be assessed using EEG-derived absolute and relative spectral power in the mu (8-12 Hz), beta (13-30/35 Hz), and gamma (30/35-100 Hz) frequency bands, as well as changes in event-related desynchronization/event-related synchronization (ERD/ERS) magnitude over time. Measurements will be obtained at pre-fatigue baseline and continuously during the fatiguing task, with data segmented into contraction epochs and grouped into four fatigue phases for analysis.

  Outcome measure will be recorded at baseline and throughout the fatiguing contractions in the single experimental session (up to 40 minutes) and compared over 4 fatigue phases.

• EMG median frequency

  Peripheral manifestations of fatigue will be assessed using shifts in EMG median frequency during repeated contractions. Data will be recorded continuously during the task and analyzed across contraction epochs grouped into four fatigue phases.

  Outcome measure will be recorded throughout the fatiguing contractions in the single experimental session (up to 40 minutes) and compared over 4 fatigue phases.

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Corticomuscular coherence

  Outcome measure will be recorded throughout the fatiguing contractions in the single experimental session (up to 40 minutes) and compared over 4 fatigue phases.

Study Arms (2)

Subacute stroke

Stroke survivors will be recruited from Brussels University Hospital (Brussels, Belgium). Patients who have a first-ever stroke, ≥18 years, subacute phase: 1 week to 6 months post-stroke, quadriceps (hemiplegic side) strength ≤3/5 (Medical Research Council (MRC)), and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) ≥21 will be included. Exclusion criteria include a history of a previous stroke, severe spasticity (Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) 3-4 in quadriceps/hamstrings), other neurological, motor, musculoskeletal, or orthopedic conditions affecting trunk stability and lower limb mobility, non-cerebral strokes (e.g., brainstem, cerebellar), or dementia (MoCA ≤20), and current or former athletes.

Healthy participants

Healthy age-matched controls ≥18 years and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) ≥21 will be included. Exclusion criteria include other neurological, motor, musculoskeletal, or orthopedic conditions affecting trunk stability and lower limb mobility, non-cerebral strokes (e.g., brainstem, cerebellar), or dementia (MoCA ≤20), and current or former athletes.

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Stroke survivors will be recruited from Brussels University Hospital (Brussels, Belgium). Healthy, age-matched controls will be recruited through our research group's network and residential care homes in Belgium.

You may qualify if:

• Stroke survivors will be recruited from Brussels University Hospital (Brussels, Belgium). Patients who have a first-ever stroke, ≥18 years, subacute phase: 1 week to 6 months post-stroke, quadriceps (hemiplegic side) strength ≤3/5 (Medical Research Council (MRC)), and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) ≥21 will be included.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Vrije Universiteit Brussel: lead

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Stroke; Ischemic Stroke; Fatigue

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

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

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: CASE CONTROL
• Time Perspective: CROSS SECTIONAL
• Target Duration: 1 Day
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 11, 2026
• First Posted: May 19, 2026
• Study Start (Estimated): September 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): October 31, 2029
• Study Completion (Estimated): October 31, 2029
• Last Updated: May 19, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-05