CVA (Cerebrovascular Accident), Stroke
Conditions
Keywords
stroke, walking, rehabilitation, cognition
Brief summary
This project seeks to determine how post-stroke cognitive impairment moderates motor learning during walking in older adults with chronic stroke and identify brain structural markers that mediate this relationship. The chosen experimental design integrates biomechanical analyses, neuropsychological assessments, and brain imaging techniques to determine the impact of post-stroke cognitive impairment severity on two forms of motor learning (explicit and implicit) and examine the role of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in the relationship between cognition and explicit motor learning. Ultimately, this work may lead to the development of a more comprehensive, effective treatment approach to improve walking dysfunction in older adults post-stroke.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALExplicit motor learning
Participants will be provided with visual feedback of their right and left step lengths on a screen in front of a treadmill.
BEHAVIORALImplicit motor learning
Participants will walk on a treadmill that drives their right and left legs to move at two different speeds.
Sponsors
University of Southern California
Study design
Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
45 Years to 85 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Unilateral stroke * Stroke occurred more than 6 months prior * Paresis confined to one side * Independently ambulatory (including the use of assistive devices) * Able to walk for 5 minutes without stopping * Answers no to all general health questions on the PAR-Q+ * Willingness to complete study procedures
Exclusion criteria
* Brainstem or cerebellar stroke * Aphasia (expressive, receptive, or global) * Any major musculoskeletal or non-stroke neurological condition that interferes with the assessment of sensorimotor or cognitive function * Metal in the head (except in the mouth), implanted cranial or thoracic devices that violate MRI safety regulations * Uncontrolled hypertension (\>160/110mmHg) * Concurrent physical therapy * Claustrophobia * Significant cognitive deficit or dementia (\<20 on MoCA) * Inability to give informed consent
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| step length asymmetry - change in performance | Measured at three timepoints of interest within each testing session: baseline and at the beginning and end of the interventions; participants will complete 2 testing sessions over approximately 1 months | characterized as a comparison between the right and left step lengths; captured to quantify change in performance with biofeedback or split belt walking |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| step length asymmetry - immediate retention | Measured after motor learning in each testing session; participants will complete 2 testing sessions over approximately 1 months | characterized as a comparison between the right and left step lengths; captured to quantify the retention of a newly learned walking pattern |
Countries
United States
Contacts
Primary ContactKristan Leech, PT, DPT, PhD
Backup ContactSarah Kettlety, MS
Outcome results
None listed