Backward Walking Observation Training in People With Stroke and Gait Quality in Stroke

NCT ID: NCT06850662

Last Updated: 2025-06-12

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 50 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2025-04-24
• Study Completion Date: 2028-09-30

Brief Summary

Walking impairment is one of the most common and concerning issues for individuals with stroke. Previous studies have often used improvements in walking speed and distance as reference indicators for gait performance progress in individuals with stroke. However, for people with chronic stroke, it may be more appropriate to prioritize improving gait symmetry and gait variability to enhance gait quality as a primary intervention goal. Additionally, stroke can lead to an imbalance in interhemispheric brain activity, which evolves as motor function recovers. According to the literature review, backward walking may extend the support time of the lower limbs, thereby enhancing the weight-bearing capacity of the affected limb. This, in turn, could promote gait symmetry and reduce gait variability. Changes in brain activity might also accompany such improvements in gait quality. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the immediate, short-term and post carryover intervention effects of backward walking observation training on gait quality in individuals with chronic stroke as well as to explore its effects on interhemispheric activity balance in individuals with chronic stroke.

Conditions

Stroke

Study Design

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

Study Groups

Backward walking observation training group

The intervention is a 50-minute session and 3 sessions/week, totaling 4 weeks.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Backward walking observation training

Intervention Type: OTHER

Backward treadmill training after watching a video of backward walking.

Non-motor observational backward walking training group

The intervention is a 50-minute session and 3 sessions/week, totaling 4 weeks.

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Non-motor observational backward walking training

Intervention Type: OTHER

Backward treadmill training after watching a video of landscape without any movements.

Interventions

Backward walking observation training

Backward treadmill training after watching a video of backward walking.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Non-motor observational backward walking training

Backward treadmill training after watching a video of landscape without any movements.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• ≥ 6 months after the diagnosis of stroke
• Independent walking over at least 7m with or without a walking aid
• Mini-mental state examination score ≥ 24

Exclusion Criteria

• Had difficulty in backward walking
• Any neuromuscular disorders history
• With visual or auditory disorders
• Unstable cardiac status or uncontrolled hypertension
• Any musculoskeletal disorders that would affect walking ability

• Minimum Eligible Age: 20 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 80 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Yea-Ru Yang

Professor

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

Department of Physical Therapy and Assistive Technology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University

Taipei, , Taiwan

Site Status: RECRUITING

Countries

Taiwan

Central Contacts

Yea-Ru Yang, PhD

Role: CONTACT

yryang@nycu.edu.tw

+886228267279

Facility Contacts

Yea-Ru Yang, PhD

Role: primary

yryang@nycu.edu.tw

+886-2-2826-7279

Other Identifiers

NYCU113210AF2

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id