Effects of Treadmill-Based Gait Training in Patients With Stroke

Condition(s) studied

Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)

Treadmill gait training: Participants will undergo a 15-minute treadmill gait training session using a safety harness and under the continuous supervision of a physiotherapist to ensure patient safety. The study will be carried out for 12 weeks with a frequency of two weekly sessions. During them, the participants will receive treadmill training. All participants will walk at a speed exceeding 2.5 km/h. The speed will be individually adjusted to provide a challenging yet appropriate intensity based on each participant's capabilities.

CONVENTIONAL PHYSIOTHERAPY: CONVENTIONAL PHYSIOTHERAPY The conventional physiotherapy program was individualized and targeted sensorimotor impairments commonly observed after stroke, with progressive adjustments in exercise intensity and task complexity according to individual performance and tolerance. It included exercises aimed at improving balance, lower-limb muscle strength, coordination, gait performance, and functional task-oriented activities.

Study summary

Hemiplegia is one of the most common sequelae after stroke. Most patients develop thermal asymmetry between the affected and contralateral sides of the body, as well as an asymmetric gait pattern characterized by differences in the duration of gait cycle phases, step length, cadence, and weight distribution between limbs. These patterns result in reduced aerobic capacity, endurance, energy efficiency, and walking speed, negatively impacting the patient's functional abilities.

There are different methodologies for the treatment gait impairments. Among them, treadmill training has been investigated as an effective therapeutic approach to post-stroke rehabilitation.

Treadmill gait training may reduce asymmetry between hemibodies in hemiplegic patients.

For this reason, our aim is to describe the effects of treadmill training on gait, focusing on its impact on thermal asymmetry, walking speed, aerobic endurance, and the biomechanical and kinematic characteristics of gait.

Patients with hemiplegia will undergo treadmill-based gait training to evaluate its influence on the recovery of this sequel of stroke.

Eligibility

Primary outcome measure(s)

• Thermal asymmetry — 30 minutes
  Temperature and humidity will be recorded. Participants will arrive 15 minutes early for acclimatization, seated calmly in the assessment room, wearing shorts and without shoes or socks. They must avoid hot baths, creams, talcum powder, cosmetics, physical exercise, stimulants (caffeine, alcohol, nasal decongestants), smoking, and food intake (water allowed) within two hours prior. During this period, informed consent will be obtained and adhesive markers will be placed 1 cm laterally to the regions of interest: anterior thigh (5 cm above patella), anterior leg (5 cm below patella), posterosuperior leg (popliteal fossa), and posteroinferior leg (10 cm above heel). Thermal images will be taken in standing position (anterior and posterior views) and supine position (plantar surface), using a tripod-mounted camera at standardized distances and heights. For standing images, the camera will be positioned on a tripod at a distance of 2 m from the subject, at a height of 1

Trial sites (1)

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