Impact of Training on Gait and Strength in Stroke Survivors

NCT ID: NCT01818349

Last Updated: 2013-03-26

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 30 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2002-03-31
• Study Completion Date: 2007-12-31

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

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: SINGLE

Study Groups

isokinetic lower-limb training

3 times/week for 6 weeks

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

isokinetic lower-limb training

Intervention Type: OTHER

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

isokinetic uppe-limb training

3 times/week for 6 weeks

Group Type: PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

isokinetic upper-limb training

Intervention Type: OTHER

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

Interventions

isokinetic lower-limb training

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

Intervention Type: OTHER

isokinetic upper-limb training

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

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• 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

Exclusion Criteria

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

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)

OTHER_GOV

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Université de Montréal

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Marie-hélène Milot

professor

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Sylvie Nadeau, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Université de Montréal

Locations

Institut de réadaptation Gingras-Lindsay

Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Countries

Canada

Other Identifiers

IRSC-44059

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id