Impact of Training on Gait and Strength in Stroke Survivors

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Stroke
• Interventions: Other: isokinetic lower-limb training; Other: isokinetic upper-limb training

• Registration Number: NCT01818349
• Lead Sponsor: Université de Montréal

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.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2002-03
• Primary Completion: 2005-12
• Study Completion: 2007-12
• Status Verified: 2013-03
• Study First Submitted: 2013-03-15
• Study First Submitted QC: 2013-03-21
• Last Update Submitted: 2013-03-21
• Study First Posted: 2013-03-26
• Last Update Posted: 2013-03-26

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 30

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

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
isokinetic lower-limb training	isokinetic lower-limb training	3 times/week for 6 weeks
isokinetic uppe-limb training	isokinetic upper-limb training	3 times/week for 6 weeks

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
change in gait speed	gait speed was assessed at baseline and at the completion of the 6-week training (i.e. week #7)	change in gait speed, in meter/second, was assessed as the difference between the baseline and week #7 values.
change in peak positive power	peak positive power was assessed at baseline and at the completion of the 6-week training (i.e. week #7)	peak positive power was evaluated at the affected plantarflexors, hip flexors and hip extensors. Also, change in peak positive power, in weight/kilogram, was assessed as the difference between the baseline and week #7 values.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
change in maximal voluntary concentric strength	maximal voluntary concentric strength was assessed at baseline and at the completion of the 6-week training (i.e. week #7)	maximal voluntary concentric strength was evaluated at the affected plantarflexors, hip flexors and hip extensors. Also, change in maximal voluntary concentric strength, in Newton-metre, was assessed as the difference between the baseline and week #7 values.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Institut de réadaptation Gingras-Lindsay; 🇨🇦 Montréal, Quebec, Canada