Effect of Lower Limb Exproprioception Training in Virtual Environment on Locomotion Performance in Stroke Patients

Not Applicable

• Conditions: Spatial Perception; Virtual Reality; Exercise Training; Exproprioception; Stroke
• Interventions: Other: Virtual reality foot placement training

• Registration Number: NCT04436237
• Lead Sponsor: National Cheng Kung University

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine if a virtual reality training of foot placement with or without visual cues about the location of the foot in the environment would improve locomotion-related function in persons in the chronic stage of stroke. Participants were randomly assigned to receive twice per week, for a total of 2 weeks' training with visual cues (control group) or without (experimental group). It was hypothesized that the experimental group would be able to place the foot closer to the target when stepping and have more symmetrical gait. So far, 22 stroke patients completed the experiment. Preliminary results support the hypothesis. This project is still ongoing.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2019-08-26
• Study First Submitted: 2020-06-12
• Study First Submitted QC: 2020-06-16
• Study First Posted: 2020-06-17
• Status Verified: 2021-09
• Last Update Submitted: 2021-09-03
• Last Update Posted: 2021-09-05
• Primary Completion: 2021-12-10
• Study Completion: 2021-12-31

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: UNKNOWN
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 60

Inclusion Criteria

• first time unilateral stroke and onset over 6 months
• able to independent walking with or without aids over 10 meters
• Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score above 24
• orientation intake, able to identify right and left
• normal or corrected-to-normal vision, able to see the 2 cm diameter circle on the floor while standing

Exclusion Criteria

• gait nearly normal
• had other neurological and musculoskeletal disease which can affect walking ability
• hemineglect
• use virtual reality device will severely discomfort, such as headaches, blurred vision, vertigo or vomiting

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Non-visual exproprioception training	Virtual reality foot placement training	The training requires the participant to place the foot at a target without visual cues of the foot in virtual environment.
Visual exproprioception group	Virtual reality foot placement training	The training requires the participant to place the foot at a target with visual cues of the foot in virtual environment.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
foot placement accuracy (cm)	2 weeks	The distance between the foot and the target in various stepping tasks
gait symmetry	2 weeks	ratio of the two leg step lengths

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
exproprioception (cm)	2 weeks	the error in placing the unaffected foot at a location previously defined by the affected foot

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

National Cheng Kung University; 🇨🇳 Tainan, Taiwan