Boosting Leg Recovery After Stroke: A Study on Watching and Imagining Movements

Not yet recruiting

Conditions: Spastic hemiplegia,

Registration Number: CTRI/2025/05/087588

Lead Sponsor: Nitte Institute of Physiotherapy

Brief Summary: Stroke is a major contributor to adult disability worldwide, often resulting in significant lower limb motor deficits that limit mobility, balance, and independence. While conventional physiotherapy remains the cornerstone of stroke rehabilitation, innovative neurorehabilitation techniques are gaining attention for their ability to promote brain plasticity. Action Observation (AO) and Motor Imagery (MI), two non-invasive, cognitive-based strategies, have independently shown potential to enhance motor recovery. However, limited evidence exists on the combined application of AO and MI in stroke rehabilitation, especially for the lower limbs. This randomized controlled trial investigates the synergistic effect of AO and MI, integrated with standard physiotherapy, on improving lower limb motor function in patients with acute stroke. The study aims to offer a novel, effective, and accessible intervention to accelerate functional recovery and restore independence in stroke survivors

Detailed Description: Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status: Not Yet Recruiting

Sex: All

Target Recruitment: 52

Inclusion Criteria

Patients with MRI or CT-confirmed acute Anterior Cerebral Artery (ACA) stroke Stroke onset between 7 to 30 days prior to enrollment Presence of lower limb hemiplegia Age between 45 and 80 years Both male and female participants Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 10 or more out of 15 Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score of 18 or higher, indicating stable cognition Brunnstrom Recovery Stage (BRS) between stage 3 and stage 5.

Exclusion Criteria

MCA, PCA stroke Co-existing LL musculoskeletal disorders Other neurological or psychiatric disorders severe sensory deficits.

Study & Design

Study Type: Interventional

Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Fugl-Meyer Assessment of Lower Extremity	Fugl-Meyer Assessment – Lower Extremity (FMAL-LE), a reliable performance-based scale to assess sensorimotor impairment post-stroke. Scored 0–2 per item, max score 34. Assessed pre- and post-intervention (at 3 weeks) to evaluate motor recovery.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Montreal Cognitive Assessment-MoCA	MoCA will be used pre intervention as a screening tool to assess cognition & orientation, essential for AOT & MI. It evaluates multiple cognitive domains with high sensitivity, specificity ensuring participants can follow instructions & differentiate imagined versus real actions

Trial Locations

Locations (1): Justice K S Hegde Charitable Hospital
🇮🇳
Kannada, KARNATAKA, India
Justice K S Hegde Charitable Hospital
🇮🇳Kannada, KARNATAKA, India
Dr Shreya Franklin
Principal investigator
9833390313
shreyafranklin@gmail.com