MedTrace Logo

Task Specific Training and Conventional Physical Therapy on Ankle Dorsiflexion in Sub-acute Stroke Patients

NCT07338032 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 66

Last updated 2026-01-13

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

This study is a randomized clinical trial designed to compare two physiotherapy rehabilitation approaches for people in the sub-acute phase after stroke (2-6 months after stroke). Stroke often causes weakness of the ankle dorsiflexor muscles, which can lead to foot drop and difficulty walking safely. Improving ankle control may help balance and functional mobility.

Eligible participants will be recruited from two tertiary care hospitals using purposive sampling and enrolled after providing informed consent. After baseline assessment, participants will be randomly allocated to one of two groups. The experimental group will receive task-specific training combined with conventional physiotherapy, and the control group will receive conventional physiotherapy alone. Treatment will be delivered for 8 weeks, three sessions per week.

Outcomes will be assessed at baseline and after completion of the 8-week intervention. The primary outcomes are ankle dorsiflexor strength measured by Manual Muscle Testing (MMT) and functional mobility measured by the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test. Balance measured by the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) is the secondary outcome. An independent outcome assessor who is not involved in treatment delivery will conduct the assessments to reduce measurement bias.

Conditions

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Task-Specific Training Combined With Conventional Physiotherapy

This intervention consists of task-specific training combined with conventional physiotherapy delivered over 8 weeks, with three supervised sessions per week (approximately 45 minutes per session). Task-specific training emphasizes repetitive, goal-directed functional activities designed to enhance ankle dorsiflexion during gait. Exercises include forward, backward, and sideways walking under therapist supervision, toe walking, heel raises on a step, single-leg stance tasks, active toe lifts, and resisted ankle dorsiflexion using weighted boots or resistance bands. Conventional physiotherapy components, including strengthening and flexibility exercises for the ankle dorsiflexors, may be incorporated alongside task-oriented activities as per protocol. All sessions are delivered by a qualified physiotherapist following standardized safety and progression guidelines.

BEHAVIORAL

Conventional Physiotherapy for Ankle Dorsiflexor Strengthening

This intervention consists of a conventional physiotherapy program focused on ankle dorsiflexor strengthening and flexibility, delivered over 8 weeks with three supervised sessions per week (45-60 minutes per session). The program includes isometric ankle dorsiflexion exercises against manual resistance, held contractions with rest intervals, and progressive concentric dorsiflexion strengthening using resistance bands or ankle weights with gradual increases in intensity and repetitions. Passive and active stretching of the plantarflexor muscles is also included. All exercises are administered by an experienced physiotherapist using standardized positioning, safety precautions, and progression criteria.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • University of Lahore

    lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
40 Years
Max Age
65 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2025-06-16
Primary Completion
2025-12-29
Completion
2026-01-03

Countries

  • Pakistan

Study Locations

More Related Trials

Entities

Diseases

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT07338032 on ClinicalTrials.gov