Adjunct Locomotor Training to Improve Walking Ability After Stroke
Overview
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Intervention
- Not specified
- Conditions
- Stroke
- Sponsor
- University of Victoria
- Enrollment
- 20
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Change in Treadmill Walking Characteristics
- Last Updated
- 11 years ago
Overview
Brief Summary
It has been found that arm and leg cycling is similar to walking in terms of the muscle activation patterns and joint ranges of motion. In addition, arm and leg cycling and walking activate similar neural pathways. Another advantage of arm and leg cycling is that it involves coordination of all four limbs in a rhythmic movement. This may be particularly beneficial given previous findings that arm movement contributes to the activation of leg muscles during walking in humans. This is achieved with interconnected neural pathways that link the arms to the legs. These neural interlimb connections remain intact in stroke victims, such that maximizing the contribution of the arms to the legs may increase coordination for walking. Thus, the objectives of this research are to determine if arm and leg cycling can be used to increase the strength of interlimb connections and if this helps to improve walking ability in a post-stroke population. It is hypothesized that arm and leg cycling will transfer to improvements in walking in a post stroke population.
Detailed Description
For those who have suffered a stroke, damage to the brain can result in a decreased ability to walk, thus decreasing quality of life in a significant way. Traditionally, body weight supported treadmill training has been used for walking rehabilitation; however, this therapy requires specialized technicians, equipment, and facilities. Arm and leg cycle ergometers, a device commonly found in a gym, could provide an inexpensive and readily accessible means for walking rehabilitation.
Investigators
Dr. E. Paul Zehr
Dr. E. Paul Zehr
University of Victoria
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- •lives within the Victoria, Vancouver Island, and Vancouver mainland communities
Exclusion Criteria
- •inability to stand for 5 minutes unassisted
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Change in Treadmill Walking Characteristics
Time Frame: Baseline, immediately post-intervention (average of 4 days following last exercise session)
Treadmill walking characteristics will be gauged via a customized analysis of muscle activity patterns and lower limb joint kinematics. Walking frequency, symmetry, and timing will also be analyzed
Secondary Outcomes
- Six minute walk test(Baseline, immediately post-intervention (average of 4 days following last exercise session))
- Fugl-Meyer Assessment(Baseline, immediately post-intervention (average of 4 days following the last exercise session))
- Brunnstrom recovery stages(Baseline, immediately post-intervention (average of 4 days following the last exercise session))
- Timed up and go test(Baseline, immediately post-intervention (average of 4 days following the last exercise session))
- Interlimb Connections(Baseline, immediately post-intervention (average of 4 days following the last exercise session))
- 10 meter walk test(Baseline, immediately post-intervention (average of 4 days following the last exercise session))