Investigation of Gait Parameters in Health and Neurological Disease Under Varying Locomotor Conditions

In the cross-sectional component of this study, our overall objective is to gather a large pool of data from which we can generate gait "profiles". These profiles will consist of a constellation of gait (+/- electrophysiological) parameters associated with a particular neurological diagnosis or specific lesion(s) in neuroanatomical systems. Once developed, these profiles can be compared for differences and similarities; allowing insights into the specificity of the effect on gait of a given diagnosis or lesion in the case of the former and redundancy of neuroanatomical systems in that of the latter. A longitudinal component of the study will look at the evolution of gait parameters over time in a group of patients with spinal cord injury.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Gait Analysis in Neurological Disorders

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 208

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Switzerland
  • Canton of Zurich
    • Zurich, Canton of Zurich, Switzerland, 8008
      • University of Zurich

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 80 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Adult patients aged 18-80 with spinal cord injury, hemispheric stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson disease, vestibular disease, cerebellar disease. Healthy control subjects aged 18-80.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

Patients:

• age 18 - 80
• written, informed consent
• one of the following established diagnoses: unilateral stroke affecting motor system, Parkinson syndrome, cerebellar disease, vestibular dysfunction, spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis
• Brain and whole spine T1, T2 & FLAIR magnetic resonance imaging performed within the last four months and available for study purposes or no contraindications to performing these scans

Healthy subjects:

• age 18 - 80
• written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

Patients:

• Colour-blindness
• Known to be pregnant or breastfeeding
• Body mass index (weight in kg/height in metres squared) >40 Unable to walk 50m within 6 minutes (with or without walking aids) Inability to undertake any component of the trial protocol
• Terminal diagnosis with life expectancy less than six months
• Cognitive disturbance defined as MMSE < 25 Clinically significant comorbidities such as severe cardiovascular, pulmonary or malignant disease

Healthy subjects:

• Colour-blindness
• Known to be pregnant or breastfeeding
• Body mass index (weight in kg/height in metres squared) >40 Unable to walk 50m within 6 minutes
• Reliance on walking aids / prostheses for mobilisation
• Significant neurological or orthopaedic diagnosis with potential impact on gait // Previous operations on the lower limbs or spine with potential impact on gait Inability to undertake any component of the trial protocol Clinically significant conditions such as severe cardiovascular, pulmonary or malignant disease

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Observational Models: Other
• Time Perspectives: Other

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
healthy control subjects
patients

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Change of gait parameter after injury to CNS	Timepoint 0 plus timepoint 6 months and 12 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Zurich

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Killeen T, Easthope CS, Filli L, Linnebank M, Curt A, Bolliger M, Zorner B. Modulating Arm Swing Symmetry with Cognitive Load: A Window on Rhythmic Spinal Locomotor Networks in Humans? J Neurotrauma. 2017 May 15;34(10):1897-1902. doi: 10.1089/neu.2016.4554. Epub 2016 Oct 12.
• Killeen T, Easthope CS, Filli L, Lorincz L, Schrafl-Altermatt M, Brugger P, Linnebank M, Curt A, Zorner B, Bolliger M. Increasing cognitive load attenuates right arm swing in healthy human walking. R Soc Open Sci. 2017 Jan 25;4(1):160993. doi: 10.1098/rsos.160993. eCollection 2017 Jan.
• Filli L, Meyer C, Killeen T, Lorincz L, Gopfert B, Linnebank M, von Tscharner V, Curt A, Bolliger M, Zorner B. Probing Corticospinal Control During Different Locomotor Tasks Using Detailed Time-Frequency Analysis of Electromyograms. Front Neurol. 2019 Jan 29;10:17. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2019.00017. eCollection 2019.
• Killeen T, Easthope CS, Demko L, Filli L, Lorincz L, Linnebank M, Curt A, Zorner B, Bolliger M. Minimum toe clearance: probing the neural control of locomotion. Sci Rep. 2017 May 15;7(1):1922. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-02189-y.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: April 1, 2014
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 1, 2019
• Study Completion (Actual): December 10, 2019

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 23, 2014
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 13, 2014
• First Posted (Estimated): June 17, 2014

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimated): September 22, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 16, 2025
• Last Verified: September 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Nervous System Diseases
• Other Study ID Numbers: KEK-ZH-2014-0004/PB_2016-00386

Drug and device information, study documents

• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No