Gait Performance and Lower-limb Muscle Strength Improved in Both Upper-limb and Lower-limb Isokinetic Training Programs in Individuals With Chronic Stroke
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Completed
- Sponsor
- Université de Montréal
- Enrollment
- 30
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- change in gait speed
Study Overview
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.
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Intervention Model
- Parallel
- Primary Purpose
- Treatment
- Masking
- Single (Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 18 Years to — (Adult, Older Adult)
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- No
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
Arms & Interventions
isokinetic lower-limb training
3 times/week for 6 weeks
Intervention: isokinetic lower-limb training (Other)
isokinetic uppe-limb training
3 times/week for 6 weeks
Intervention: isokinetic upper-limb training (Other)
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
change in gait speed
Time Frame: 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
Time Frame: 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 Outcomes
- 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))
Investigators
Marie-hélène Milot
professor
Université de Montréal