Balancing while picking up objects for people with hemiparesis
Study of the Stability of Post-stroke Hemiparetic Patients During a Task Involving Picking up an Object on the Ground. Reflection Questioning the Conventional Rehabilitation of These Patients
We will test whether shifting more weight onto the stronger leg helps people with hemiparesis stay steadier when picking up objects from the ground.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | 72 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Garches) |
| Trial ID | NCT07082036 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This observational protocol compares spontaneous weight distribution versus imposed symmetrical support when adults with chronic hemiparesis pick up objects from the ground. Participants include people at least six months after a single unilateral stroke who can stand unaided and pick up an object, and matched healthy controls. Measures include postural stability, orientation (weight distribution), task duration for near and distant targets, and correlations with clinical outcomes such as falls and sensorimotor impairment. The study also compares strategies between right- and left-sided strokes to characterize compensatory behaviors.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults (≥18 years) with a single unilateral stroke ≥6 months prior, able to stand and pick up an object independently, and demonstrating >10% weight-bearing asymmetry favoring the non-paretic leg.
Not a fit: People with acute or bilateral stroke, those who cannot stand or pick up objects unaided, or those without the specified weight asymmetry are unlikely to benefit from this protocol.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could inform rehabilitation guidance so patients adopt weight-distribution strategies that reduce fall risk during everyday tasks.
How similar studies have performed: Prior work documents altered weight distribution and balance after stroke, but the specific comparison of natural asymmetry versus imposed symmetry during object retrieval has been little studied.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: All: Male or female ≥ 18 years For patients : * Haemiparesis after a single unilateral hemispheric Stroke. * Stroke ≥ 6 months * Asymmetry of support between the 2 lower limbs (distribution of body weight) in a standing position at the expense of the paretic lower limb \> 10%. * Able to stand alone, without technical aids or equipment, with feet the width of the pelvis * Able to pick up an object from the ground alone (minimum score 3/4 item 9 of the Berg Balance Scale). * Patient informed and having signed a consent form For healthy subjects: \- Similar characteristics (in terms of sex, age range and BMI class) to those of one of the patients already included. Exclusion Criteria: \-
Where this trial is running
Garches
- CHU Raymond Poincaré - APHP — Garches, France (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Céline Bonnyaud — Motion Analysis Laboratory, CHU Raymond Poincaré - APHP
- Study coordinator: Céline Bonnyaud, PhD
- Email: celine.bonnyaud@aphp.fr
- Phone: + 33 01 71 14 49 21
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.