Sensory reweighting to improve balance after chronic ischemic stroke
Efficacy of Sensory Reweighting Techniques for Balance and Risk of Fall in Chronic Ischemic Stroke Patients
This will test whether sensory reweighting balance exercises help people with chronic ischemic stroke improve balance and reduce their risk of falling.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 46 (estimated) |
| Ages | 40 Years to 60 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of Lahore Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Lahore, Punjab Province) |
| Trial ID | NCT07404371 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This randomized controlled trial will enroll 46 participants with chronic ischemic stroke and randomly assign them to sensory reweighting-based balance training or conventional balance training. The experimental program uses altered sensory conditions (reduced vision, unstable surfaces, vestibular challenges) three times per week for eight weeks while the control group receives matched-duration conventional balance exercises; both groups continue standard physiotherapy. Primary outcomes are balance and fall risk measured by the Berg Balance Scale and the Timed Up and Go test at baseline and after the intervention. Participants are aged 40–60 years, at least six months post-stroke, able to stand and walk 10 feet, and have MMSE ≥24.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people aged 40–60 with chronic ischemic stroke more than six months after onset, who can stand and walk at least 10 feet (with or without aids) and have sufficient cognition (MMSE ≥24).
Not a fit: Patients with hemorrhagic or mixed stroke types, uncorrectable severe visual/auditory/vestibular loss, other major neurological or musculoskeletal disorders, or medical instability are unlikely to benefit from this intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could improve balance and lower fall risk, helping patients regain more independence and safety in daily activities.
How similar studies have performed: Prior sensorimotor and task-specific balance training studies in stroke rehabilitation have shown promising but mixed benefits for balance and fall risk, so this approach builds on suggestive but not definitive evidence.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: Diagnosed case of chronic ischemic stroke (duration \>6 months post-stroke) Both male and female patients with age range 40-60 years . Able to stand and walk at least 10 feet (with or without assistive devices). Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score ≥24 (to ensure adequate cognitive ability to follow instructions). Medically stable and cleared by a physician to participate in balance training. Experiencing balance impairment and/or history of at least one fall in the past 6 months Exclusion Criteria: Hemorrhagic stroke patients or mixed stroke types Severe visual, auditory, or vestibular impairments not correctable by aids (which would interfere with sensory reweighting assessment). Other neurological conditions (e.g., Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, peripheral neuropathy). Musculoskeletal disorders significantly affecting balance (e.g., recent fracture, severe arthritis). On medications that severely affect balance or cause dizziness (e.g., sedatives, high-dose antiepileptic. Severe aphasia or communication disorders impeding participation in the intervention
Where this trial is running
Lahore, Punjab Province
- University of Lahore Teaching Hospital, Lahore — Lahore, Punjab Province, Pakistan (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Kanwal Mirani, MSPTN — The University of Lahore, Lahore
- Study coordinator: Kanwal Mirani, MSPTN
- Email: kanwalmiranikanwalmirani33@gmail.com
- Phone: 0312-3474874
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.