Optimization Principles in Hemiparetic Gait

University of Southern California108 enrolled

Overview

This project seeks to identify the how walking impairments in stroke survivors contribute to mobility deficits through the use of behavioral observations and computational models. The chosen approach integrates biomechanical analyses, physiological assessments and machine learning algorithms to explain how asymmetries during walking influence balance and the effort required to walk. Ultimately, the results of this work may lead to more personalized rehabilitation strategies to improve walking capacity and efficiency, and ultimately reduce fall risk in stroke survivors.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

108

Conditions

Stroke

Interventions

Manipulation of spatiotemporal coordination during walkingBEHAVIORAL

A description of the intervention is included in the description of the study arms.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 21 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria for Control Participants: * No musculoskeletal injury or conditions that limit walking ability * No history of neurological disorders or severe head trauma * Absence of cognitive impairment as demonstrated by a Mini-Mental score greater than 24 Inclusion Criteria for Post-Stroke Participants * Presence of unilateral brain lesion from a single stroke * Weakness confined to one side * Ability to walk on a treadmill for five minutes continuously without a cane or walker * Absence of cognitive impairment as demonstrated by a Mini-Mental score greater than 24

Locations (1)

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California, United States

RECRUITING

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Oxygen consumption (VO2)

The investigators will use a metabolic cart to measure the rate of oxygen consumption (VO2) while participants walk at a fixed speed on a treadmill.

Time frame: At the beginning of study day one

Correlation between oxygen consumption (VO2) and step length asymmetry

The investigators will use a metabolic cart to measure the rate of oxygen consumption (VO2) while participants walk at a fixed speed on a treadmill. VO2 will be measured in five trials where participants walk with different levels of step length asymmetry. This outcome will capture the relationship between measures of VO2 and step length asymmetry.

Time frame: During study day one

Angular momentum during walking

Motion capture will be used to measure the kinematics of the body when participants respond to accelerations of the treadmill

Time frame: At the beginning of study day two

Correlation between angular momentum and step length asymmetry during walking

Participants will complete five trials at different levels of step length asymmetry. During these trials, motion capture will be used to measure the kinematics of the body when participants respond to accelerations of the treadmill. This outcome measure will use data from all trials to determine the relationship between angular momentum and step length asymmetry.

Time frame: During study day two

Central Contacts

James Finley, Ph.D.

CONTACT

3234424837 jmfinley@pt.usc.edu

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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