Dual-task Training During Curved Walking in Stroke Patients

Effects of Dual-task Training During Curved Walking for Cognitive Function in Stroke Patients

The purpose of this study is to explore the effects of curved walking training under dual-task conditions on the cognitive function and walking ability of stroke patients.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Stroke Rehabilitation
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: cognitive dual-task group; Behavioral: Single-task group

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 60
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: I-Hsuan Chen; Phone Number: 886-7-7811151#7043; Email: Y0894@fy.edu.tw

Study Locations

• Taiwan
  • Kaohsiung, Taiwan
    • Recruiting
    • Fooyin University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. First-time unilateral stroke
2. Age between 40 and 80 years
3. Able to walk 10 meters continuously with or without the use of assistive devices
4. Capable of following instructions and performing simple arithmetic
5. Brunnstrom stage 3 or higher

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Other neurological disease or unstable medical conditions
2. Visual field defect
3. Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) <24 points
4. Pusher syndrome
5. Half-sided neglect
6. Expressive aphasia
7. Poorly controlled hypertension or cardiovascular disease

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Cognitive tasks as the second task in addition to walking	Behavioral: cognitive dual-task group; Cognitive tasks as the second task in addition to walking
Other: walking without performing a second task during the walking training	Behavioral: Single-task group; walking without performing a second task during the walking training

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Mini-Mental State Examination	Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) includes items such as orientation, attention, memory, language, verbal comprehension, executive function, and construction ability. The maximum score is 30 points. A higher score indicates better cognitive function. One point is given for each correct answer. A total score below 24 suggests mild cognitive impairment, while a score below 16 indicates severe cognitive impairment.	From baseline to the end of treatment at 3 weeks
Trail Making Test	The test consists of two parts, A and B. In part A, the participant is asked to connect a series of numbers in sequential order as quickly as possible. Part B includes both numbers and colors, where the participant must alternate between connecting the numbers and colors in order. The test records the time taken to complete the sequence and the number of errors made for scoring. If part B is not completed within 5 minutes, the test is stopped, and the highest score of 300 seconds is recorded. A lower score indicates faster completion time, suggesting better function.	From baseline to the end of treatment at 3 weeks
Walking ability with different attention loads while turning - time	The participant will be asked to walk 10 meters in a continuous curved path, without or with dual tasks. The time (seconds) taken to turn will be recorded using a stopwatch.	From baseline to the end of treatment at 3 weeks
Walking ability with different attention loads while turning - numbers of steps	The participant will be asked to walk 10 meters in a continuous curved path, without or with dual tasks. The numbers of steps taken to turn will be recorded using a counter.	From baseline to the end of treatment at 3 weeks
Walking ability with different attention loads while turning - gait speed	The participant will be asked to walk 10 meters in a continuous curved path, without or with dual tasks. Gait speed (m/s) will be recorded using the commercially available portable gait analysis system (Gait Up).	From baseline to the end of treatment at 3 weeks
Walking ability with different attention loads while turning - step length	The participant will be asked to walk 10 meters in a continuous curved path, without or with dual tasks. Step length (cm) during gait will be recorded and analyzed using the commercially available portable gait analysis system (Gait Up).	From baseline to the end of treatment at 3 weeks
Walking ability with different attention loads while turning - step time	The participant will be asked to walk 10 meters in a continuous curved path, without or with dual tasks. Step time (seconds) will be recorded and analyzed using the commercially available portable gait analysis system (Gait Up).	From baseline to the end of treatment at 3 weeks
Walking ability with different attention loads while straight-line walking - time	The participant will be asked to walk 10 meters in a straight-line path, without or with dual tasks. The time taken to turn will be recorded using a stopwatch.	From baseline to the end of treatment at 3 weeks
Walking ability with different attention loads while straight-line walking - numbers of steps	The participant will be asked to walk 10 meters in a straight-line path, without or with dual tasks. The numbers of steps taken to turn will be recorded using a counter.	From baseline to the end of treatment at 3 weeks
Walking ability with different attention loads while straight-line walking - gait speed	The participant will be asked to walk 10 meters in a straight-line path, without or with dual tasks. Gait speed will be recorded using the commercially available portable gait analysis system (Gait Up).	From baseline to the end of treatment at 3 weeks
Walking ability with different attention loads while straight-line walking - step length	The participant will be asked to walk 10 meters in a straight-line path, without or with dual tasks. Step length (cm) will be recorded using the commercially available portable gait analysis system (Gait Up).	From baseline to the end of treatment at 3 weeks
Walking ability with different attention loads while straight-line walking - step time	The participant will be asked to walk 10 meters in a straight-line path, without or with dual tasks. Step time (second) will be recorded using the commercially available portable gait analysis system (Gait Up).	From baseline to the end of treatment at 3 weeks
Timed up and go test	This test requires a 3-meter distance to be marked on the floor, with a chair placed at one end. The time which the participant stands up, walks forward to the 3-meter mark, turns around, walks back to the chair, and sits down again will be calculated and recorded.	From baseline to the end of treatment at 3 weeks
Time taken to complete the Figure-of-Eight Walk test	The figure-eight walking test path includes both straight and turning paths. The participant will first be asked to stand between two traffic cones, spaced 5 feet apart. They will then be instructed to walk forward, turn around the first cone in their preferred direction, return to the starting point, and then turn around the second cone in the opposite direction before returning to the center. The time taken to complete the figure-eight walking test will be recorded.	From baseline to the end of treatment at 3 weeks
Numbers of steps to complete the Figure-of-Eight Walk test	The figure-eight walking test path includes both straight and turning paths. The participant will first be asked to stand between two traffic cones, spaced 5 feet apart. They will then be instructed to walk forward, turn around the first cone in their preferred direction, return to the starting point, and then turn around the second cone in the opposite direction before returning to the center. Numbers of steps to complete the Figure-of-Eight Walk test will be recorded.	From baseline to the end of treatment at 3 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Berg Balance Scale	This scale includes 14 test items. The scoring for each item ranges from 0 to 4. Generally, a score of 0 means the participant is completely unable to perform the test, while a score of 4 means the participant can complete the action within the specified time or achieve the maximum required distance or range of motion for the task. Each test item has a clear description of the scoring criteria. The total score is 56, and a higher score indicates better balance ability.	From baseline to the end of treatment at 3 weeks
Activities-Specific Balance Confidence scale	This is a questionnaire that assesses the participant's level of self-confidence in maintaining balance in 16 situations commonly encountered in the community. Each of the 16 items is scored starting from 0, where 0 indicates no confidence, and scores increase in intervals of 10, with a maximum score of 100. A score of 100 represents complete confidence in maintaining balance.	From baseline to the end of treatment at 3 weeks
Number of falls	The number of falls experienced by the participant in the past year will first be recorded. The participant will then be provided with a fall diary to track the number of falls during the one-year follow-up period after the assessment. In this study, a fall is defined as when the individual unintentionally falls to the ground, floor, or another lower level position. Each month, a follow-up phone call will be made to ensure the participant is recording the fall count as required.	From baseline to the end of treatment at 3 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Fooyin University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 12, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): July 31, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): July 31, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 9, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 20, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): March 27, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): June 10, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 5, 2025
• Last Verified: March 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Cerebrovascular Disorders; Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Vascular Diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases; Stroke
• Other Study ID Numbers: KSVGH24-CT8-05

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No