Dynamic Ultrasound of the Calf Muscles After Stroke
- Conditions
- Gait Disorders, NeurologicStroke
- Interventions
- Diagnostic Test: Dynamic ultrasound of the calf muscles
- Registration Number
- NCT06250478
- Lead Sponsor
- University Hospital, Ghent
- Brief Summary
Muscle behaviour of calf muscles can be studied during dynamic conditions using dynamic ultrasound. In particular, the medial gastrocnemius is suitable for measurements with dynamic ultrasound due to its superficial location. With this measurement technique, the muscle behavior during walking can be observed gaining insight into the mechanism of action of this muscle during a functional task. This technique has already been used in other populations (such as children with cerebral palsy) but not yet in individuals after a stroke.
Therefore, the aim of this study is to assess the muscle behavior of the medial gastrocnemius during walking in persons after stroke. There are 3 concrete objectives of the current study:
1. is the technique feasible to perform in persons after stroke?
2. does the use of the dynamic echoprobe change gait patterns?
3. can differences between persons after stroke and healthy controls be detected? This data can be used as pilot data for project applications in the future that will allow to design larger studies.
Therefore, 10 stroke patients and 10 age- and gender-matched healthy controls will walk on a treadmill for 3x2 minutes after a familiarisation period of 6 minutes.
During 1 x 2 minutes, subjects will walk without using the dynamic ultrasound. This recording aims to measure the normal gait pattern of the subjects.
During the other 2x2 minutes, subjects will walk using the dynamic ultrasound at 2 different locations on the calf. Once with the ultrasound probe on the centre of the muscle belly to visualise muscle fibre bundles and once on the muscle tendon transition, from which muscle belly and tendon length can be derived.
The use of ultrasound or not will be randomized to exclude the effect of fatigue on the outcome measures.
- Detailed Description
Not available
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- COMPLETED
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 13
Not provided
Not provided
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- PARALLEL
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description Healthy controls Dynamic ultrasound of the calf muscles - Stroke patient Dynamic ultrasound of the calf muscles -
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Tendon dynamics measured with ultrasound during walking single point assessment in one day during walking with the probe Lengthening and shortening of the tendon of the medial gastrocnemius
Muscle belly dynamics measured with ultrasound during walking single point assessment in one day during walking with the probe Lengthening and shortening of the muscle belly of the medial gastrocnemius
Fascicle dynamics measured with ultrasound during walking single point assessment in one day during walking with the probe Lengthening and shortening of the fascicles of the medial gastrocnemius
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method step width single point assessment in one day during walking without the probe step width (m)
Step length single point assessment in one day during walking without the probe Step length (m) of the paretic and non paretic side
lower limb kinematics single point assessment in one day during walking without the probe joint angles (°) in the pelvis, hip, knee and ankle in the sagittal, frontal and transverse plane during walking
gait speed single point assessment in one day during walking without the probe walking velocity (m/s)
stance phase single point assessment in one day during walking without the probe time spend standing on the paretic and non-paretic leg (s) during walking
swing phase single point assessment in one day during walking without the probe time spend not standing on the paretic and non-paretic leg (s) during walking
Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
Ghent University Hospital
🇧🇪Ghent, Belgium