Cortical Activation During Walking in Stroke
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- This is an observational study: the protocol does not assign a study treatment.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Stroke. Basic parameters: 20 years — 80 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Taiwan
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
Unsure about the terms? Read our patient guide →
Official title
Cortical Activation During Forward and Backward Walking in Individuals With Chronic Stroke
Overview
After stroke, damage to one cerebral hemisphere disrupts the normal balance of activity between the two hemispheres. The affected hemisphere typically exhibits reduced excitability, whereas the unaffected side may demonstrate increased excitability. This phenomenon, referred to as interhemispheric imbalance, further inhibits activity in the affected hemisphere, thereby restricting motor recovery. According to the interhemispheric competition model, enhancing excitability in the affected hemisphere and/or suppressing excitability in the unaffected hemisphere may contribute to the improvement of motor function in individuals with stroke. Furthermore, as motor function recovers, the balance of interhemispheric activation in motor-related cortical areas undergoes corresponding changes. Previous studies have shown that treadmill training enhances the excitability of the primary motor cortex in both hemispheres of stroke patients, as well as increases excitability across multiple cortical and subcortical regions in both hemispheres. However, it remains unclear whether treadmill training can normalize the interhemispheric imbalance in stroke patients. Additionally, the effects of forward and backward walking on the activity of motor-related brain regions in individuals with stroke are still unclear. Therefore, this cross-sectional study aims to investigate the changes in motor-related brain activity during forward walking and backward walking in individuals with chronic stroke.
Primary outcome measures
- Brain activity [Time frame: One-time measurement during a one-minute walking task at a single study visit]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- ≥ 6 months after the diagnosis of stroke
- Independent walking over at least 7m with or without a walking aid
- Mini-mental state examination score ≥ 24
Exclusion criteria
- Had difficulty in backward walking
- Any neuromuscular disorders history
- With visual or auditory disorders
- Unstable cardiac status or uncontrolled hypertension
- Any musculoskeletal disorders that would affect walking ability
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: No
Study design
- Observational model
- Case-control
Study locations
Taiwan · 1 center
- Department of Physical Therapy and Assistive Technology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung Uni — Taipei
Identifiers
NCT: NCT06840405 · NYCU113210AF1