Operant Conditioning of Reflex Pathways to Improve Walking in Individuals Post-stroke

Not Applicable

Recruiting

• Conditions: Post-stroke Hemiparesis; Stroke; Foot Drop
• Interventions: Behavioral: Operant conditioning

• Registration Number: NCT05801744
• Lead Sponsor: University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to examine the changes in reflex pathways in the paretic ankle plantarflexors in individuals with post-stroke hemiparesis using operant conditioning. We are recruiting 5 individuals with chronic post-stroke hemiparesis with foot drop in the affected leg to participate in the reflex training procedure. The study involves 40 visits with a total study duration of about 4 months.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2022-08-01
• Status Verified: 2023-03
• Study First Submitted: 2023-03-24
• Study First Submitted QC: 2023-03-24
• Last Update Submitted: 2023-03-24
• Study First Posted: 2023-04-06
• Last Update Posted: 2023-04-06
• Primary Completion: 2025-12-31
• Study Completion: 2025-12-31

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 5

Inclusion Criteria

• At least 6 months following a single, unilateral stroke, resulting in hemiparesis.
• Ambulatory with or without assistive device, but must demonstrate a gait deficit which is indicative of foot drop from reduced activation of the tibialis anterior muscle.
• Able to follow verbal directions.
• Able to see icons on computer monitor (with or without corrective lenses) from at least 4 feet away.
• All subjects will be adults at least 18 years old.
• Know history and current medication management for lower limb spasticity, if any.

Exclusion Criteria

• No history of ear disease or balance problems outside of those caused by the stroke.
• Cerebellar stroke
• No other neurological disease or injuries other than the stroke affecting the use of the legs and/or walking.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: SINGLE_GROUP

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Reciprocal inhibition up conditioning	Operant conditioning	Each participant completes 6 baseline sessions and 30 up conditioning sessions. In the 30 conditioning sessions, the magnitude of reciprocal inhibition in the paretic leg of participants post-stroke will be up conditioned.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in magnitude of reciprocal inhibition	Before training Baseline, after completion of 30 training sessions, and 1 month after the completion of intervention

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Nevada, Las Vegas; 🇺🇸 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States