Effects of Treadmill-Based Gait Training in Patients With Stroke

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.

Conditions

• Gait
• Thermography
• Walking Speed, Mesh id D000072797
• Endurance
• Step Time and Length
• Gait Analysis

Interventions

OTHER

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.

OTHER

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.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Colegio Profesional Fisioterapeutas Castilla y León

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• INSTITUTO DE INVESTIGACION BIOMEDICA DE SALAMANCA (IBSAL)

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• University of Salamanca

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

80 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2025-09-14

Primary Completion

2025-09-15

Completion

2026-03-31

Countries

• Spain

Study Locations