Help stroke survivors! Join research study on motion, balance and walking
Purpose
85% of survivors of stroke experience walking issues, which limit their activities and participation. These issues include decreased coordination and slower walking, which might make people more prone to falls.
The objective of this study is to measure walking in people shortly after stroke and to identify which aspects of walking early after stroke indicate how well a patient recovers. Identifying these features will help physical therapists customize therapies to promote recovery of walking and help with other balance issues after a stroke. Therefore, we plan to test stroke survivors between 1-6 months after stroke and up to a year after they have suffered a stroke.
Keywords: Stroke, walking, gait, recovery, physical therapy, motion
Study Sites
Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy. 1540 Alcazar St 90089-0080
- Men & Women
What's involved?
-
Up to one year
-
Up to 3 visits, each lasting up to 4-6 hours
-
None
-
Questionnaires about arm and leg function
-
Questionnaires about mood and behavior
-
Walking while your movement is recorded using a motion capture system
-
Questionnaires about participation in social roles after stroke
-
Compensation will be provided for each study visit
-
None
Eligibility
Must have
- Individuals between 18 and 90 years of age
- Have experienced their first stroke (either from a blockage or a bleeding)
- Are able to walk on a treadmill for 3 minutes
Can't have
- More than one stroke
- Other pre-existing neurological conditions that affect movement, such as traumatic brain injury, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, etc.
- Individuals who are wheel chair bound
About This Study
Most of the recovery after stroke occurs in the first three months after the stroke. How people recover from stroke varies from person to person, because of differences in type of stroke, age when the stroke occurred and also because of the ways the brain changes after stroke in each stroke survivor. To be more effective, physical therapies that aim at improving movement should take into account person to person differences in recovery. Here, we want to measure how each person recovers walking function after stroke by collecting data at multiple points in the recovery process. Our long-term goal is to identify the aspects of movement that correspond to recovery of walking and those indicative of compensation, a non-optimal solution that may lead to additional complications. This would allow us to determine the important factors to consider when prescribing therapies and interventions aimed at restoring walking function.
Study Team
For questions about this study, contact:
- Dr Natalia Sanchez, PhD
- Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy, 1540 Alcazar St Los Angeles CA 90089
- 13234420229
- sanc232@usc.edu
Research study materials
We respect your privacy!
All the information you give us is stored in a secure, password protected database. All the information that you choose to share will be kept private and confidential. Read University of Southern California's Privacy Policy here.