Brain Activity Changes After Structured Cognitive-motor Exercise for People With Stroke

Not Applicable

Recruiting

• Conditions: Stroke
• Interventions: Behavioral: Dual-task training; Behavioral: Single-task training; Behavioral: Control group

• Registration Number: NCT06129227
• Lead Sponsor: The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Brief Summary

To assess the effects of a dual-task exercise program on cognitive-motor interference during dual-task walking and the associated changes in brain activity.

Detailed Description

Stroke is one of the leading causes of chronic disability in Hong Kong and other parts of the world. Mobility dysfunctions are among the most common impairments observed after stroke. Restoration of mobility is also a top priority in rehabilitation goal-setting by stroke patients. In daily life, functional ambulation in the community requires the ability to maintain walking balance while simultaneously engaging in other attention-demanding tasks (i.e., dual-tasking), such as walking when holding a conversation, or crossing the street while attending to traffic signals. There is increasing evidence that performing a cognitive task in conjunction with a mobility task would cause more severe degradation of one or both tasks among stroke patients when compared with age-matched able-bodied individuals. This phenomenon, termed "cognitive-motor interference", should warrant detailed study, since it has an important impact on community-living among people with stroke.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2022-01-01
• Study First Submitted: 2023-10-31
• Status Verified: 2023-11
• Study First Submitted QC: 2023-11-10
• Last Update Submitted: 2023-11-10
• Study First Posted: 2023-11-13
• Last Update Posted: 2023-11-13
• Primary Completion: 2024-12
• Study Completion: 2025-12

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 84

Inclusion Criteria

• Diagnosis of stroke confirmed by brain scan reports
• Community-living
• Stroke onset ≥ 6 months
• Aged 50 years or older
• Modified Rankin scale 1-3
• Capable of following verbal instructions
• Montreal Cognitive Assessment score ≥ 22
• Ability to walk for 1 min independently with or without a walking aid
• Not receiving formal rehabilitation elsewhere

Exclusion Criteria

• Other neurological disorders
• Pain or other comorbidities that seriously affect the ability to walk
• Contraindications to exercise (e.g., angina).

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Dual-task training	Dual-task training	Mobility tasks performed in conjunction with cognitive tasks
Single-task training	Single-task training	Separate cognitive and mobility exercises
Control group	Control group	Upper limb strengthening and flexibility exercises

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Dual-task gait speed	Through study completion, an average of 1 year	Gait speed under dual-task condition will be recorded
Dual-task cognitive performance	Through study completion, an average of 1 year	Number of correct responses will be measured during dual-task walking

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Dual-task gait performance 2	Through study completion, an average of 1 year	Stride length will be measured during dual-task walking
Dual-task gait performance 1	Through study completion, an average of 1 year	Gait cadence will be measured during dual-task walking
Oxyhemoglobin concentration changes of the brain	Through study completion, an average of 1 year	Oxyhemoglobin concentration changes will be measured using functional near infra-red spectroscopy during dual-task walking
Dual-task gait performance 3	Through study completion, an average of 1 year	Trunk stability will be measured during dual-task walking

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University; 🇭🇰 Hong Kong, Hong Kong