Balance capacity in people after stroke

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status: Recruiting

Sex: Not specified

Target Recruitment: 250

Inclusion Criteria

In order to be eligible to participate in the cohort study as a participant that had a stroke, a participant must meet the following criteria:
- Having sustained a unilateral minor supratentorial stroke more than 6 months ago with hemiparesis involving the leg.
- Consequences of the stroke were not severe enough to get inpatient rehabilitation in a rehabilitation center.
- Having the capacity to stand and walk *independently* as defined by a Functional Ambulation Categories scores 4 or 5.
- 18 years or older.;In order to be eligible to participate in the cohort study as a healthy participant, a participant must meet the following criteria:
- Not having sustained a stroke.
- Having the capacity to stand and walk *independently* as defined by a Functional Ambulation Categories score 5.
- 18 years or older.;In order to be eligible to participate in the intervention study, a participant must meet the following criteria:
- Having sustained a unilateral supratentorial stroke more than 6 months ago with hemiparesis involving the leg.
- Consequences of the stroke were severe enough to get inpatient rehabilitation in a rehabilitation center.
- Having the capacity to stand and walk *independently* as defined by a Functional Ambulation Categories scores 4 or 5.
- 18 years or older.

Exclusion Criteria

With regard to the cohort and intervention study, a potential participant who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation:
- Any other neurological or musculoskeletal conditions affecting balance.
- Current orthopaedic problems; current hip or knee replacement, or limb amputation.
- Severe cognitive problems (Montreal Cognitive Assessment < 26).
- Persistent visuo-spatial neglect (Star-Cancellation Test <= 50) .
- Use of psychotropic drugs or other medication negatively affecting balance.
- Behavioural problems interfering with compliance to the study protocol.
- Unable to stand for 15 minutes without orthosis or walking aid.
- Pregnancy.
- Unable to give a personal consent.;With regard to the intervention study, a potential participant who meets any of the following criteria will also be excluded from participation:
- Conditions in which physical exercise is contra-indicated.
- Unable to walk for 10 minutes without walking aid.
- Receiving physiotherapy focusing on balance or gait which cannot be cancelled during participation in this study, except for participants receiving the Inactive Control intervention. (These participants do not have to cancel usual physiotherapy focusing on balance or gait during participation in this study).
- Having received dynamic balance training with visual and/or mechanical perturbations beforehand.

Study & Design

Study Type: Interventional

Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
<p>To assess the balance capacity in people in the chronic phase after a minor<br /><br>stroke, we will conduct a feet-in-place test, stepping test and step adjustment<br /><br>test on the N-Mill-DFP (treadmill with perturbation and measurement options).<br /><br>In the intervention study, the balance capacity of participants will be<br /><br>assessed pre and post intervention. With regard to the cohort and intervention<br /><br>study, the main study parameters are the Frequency Response Function (FRF;<br /><br>feet-in-place test), the leg angle at stepping foot contact (stepping test) and<br /><br>the foot placement error (step adjustment test). For the cohort study, also the<br /><br>number of falls as registered during the one year follow-up will also be<br /><br>included as main study parameter.</p><br>

Secondary Outcome Measures