Gait Disorders, Neurologic, Stroke
Conditions
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.
Interventions
DIAGNOSTIC_TESTDynamic ultrasound of the calf muscles
Dynamic changes of the calf muscles during walking will be assessed in persons after stroke and compared to healthy controls
Sponsors
University Ghent
University Hospital, Ghent
Study design
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
DIAGNOSTIC
Masking
NONE
Intervention model description
Both stroke patients and age and gender matched healthy controls will be included
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
Stroke group Inclusion criteria * stroke adults * no other neurologic conditions * ability to walk independently on a treadmill
Exclusion criteria
* wearing ankle foot orthosis that inhibit the assessment * had lower limb surgery in the past Healthy volunteers Inclusion criteria \- healthy adults
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| stance phase | single point assessment in one day during walking with the probe | time spend standing on the paretic and non-paretic leg (s) during walking |
| gait speed | single point assessment in one day during walking with the probe | walking velocity (m/s) |
| lower limb kinematics | single point assessment in one day during walking with the probe | joint angles (°) in the pelvis, hip, knee and ankle in the sagittal, frontal and transverse plane during walking |
| swing phase | single point assessment in one day during walking with the probe | time spend not standing on the paretic and non-paretic leg (s) during walking |
| step width | single point assessment in one day during walking with the probe | step width (m) |
| Step length | single point assessment in one day during walking with the probe | Step length (m) of the paretic and non paretic side |
Countries
Belgium
Outcome results
None listed