Measuring the mechanical cost of walking in people with stroke-related walking problems
Measurement Properties of Mechanical Cost of Walking for Individuals With Walking Impairment
It tests a new biomechanical way to measure how much energy walking uses in people with walking problems after stroke.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 18 (estimated) |
| Ages | 30 Years to 80 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of Cincinnati Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Cincinnati, Ohio) |
| Trial ID | NCT07494890 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This cross-sectional, single-session study enrolls adults with chronic hemiparetic stroke and walking impairment to test measurement properties of a novel biomechanical cost-of-walking metric. Participants complete three five-minute treadmill walking trials at a comfortable speed, with the third trial performed against added resistance to increase energetic cost. The biomechanical measure will be compared to metabolic cost and common functional tests to examine convergent validity, test-retest reliability, and responsiveness. The aim is to determine whether the biomechanical metric can pinpoint sources of movement inefficiency that underlie elevated energy costs after stroke.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 30–80 with chronic hemiparesis from stroke who walk slower than 1.0 m/s, can walk 10 m over ground and at least 5 minutes continuously on a treadmill, and can follow simple instructions.
Not a fit: People with recent cardiac or pulmonary hospitalization, implanted pacemakers/defibrillators, severe lower-limb hypertonia, unstable joints, or who cannot walk continuously for 5 minutes are unlikely to benefit or be eligible.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the measure could help clinicians identify the biomechanical sources of inefficient walking so therapy can target the right impairments and potentially improve independence.
How similar studies have performed: Metabolic cost-of-walking measures are well established, but this biomechanical decomposition approach is relatively novel and has limited prior validation.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Age 30-80 years at the time of consent * Hemiparesis from ischemic and/or hemorrhagic strokes * Most recent stroke for which participant sought treatment, at least 3 months prior to study consent * Walking speed \<1.0 m/s on the 10-meter walk test * Able to walk 10m over ground with assistive devices as needed * Able to walk at least 5 minutes continuously on the treadmill ≥ 0.1 mile per hour * No contraindications to exercise according to ACSM guidelines * Able to communicate with investigators, follow a 2-step command and correctly answer consent comprehension questions Exclusion Criteria: * Hospitalization for cardiac or pulmonary disease within past 3 months * Implanted pacemaker or defibrillator * Severe lower limb hypertonia (Ashworth \>2) * Foot drop or lower limb joint instability without adequate stabilizing device * Clinically significant neurologic disorder other than stroke * Other significant medical condition likely to jeopardize safety (e.g. joint contracture, gait limited by pain) * Pregnancy
Where this trial is running
Cincinnati, Ohio
- University of Cincinnati - Digital Futures — Cincinnati, Ohio, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Christina Garrity, DPT — University of Cincinnati
- Study coordinator: Christina Garrity, DPT
- Email: garritca@mail.uc.edu
- Phone: (513) 558-7499
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.