Impaired Interlimb Coordination During Locomotion in Individuals With Chronic Stroke: Contributors and Effect on Walking Function

Recruiting now · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Stroke

In brief

Individuals with chronic stroke have long-term walking problems that limit community engagement and quality of life, lead to secondary disabilities, and increase healthcare costs and burden. These walking issues often persist despite rehabilitation. One novel target for stroke gait rehabilitation is interlimb coordination-the phase-dependent cyclical relation of the legs. Interlimb coordination is altered during walking after stroke, compromising walking stability, phase transitions, and responses to perturbation and contributing to motor compensation. It is unclear what neural pathways contribute to impaired interlimb coordination after stroke and what impact this has on walking-related outcomes. This proposal consists of two aims to address these issues, with the long-term goal of developing therapeutic interventions to improve interlimb coordination and walking after stroke. Aim 1 will identify which neural sources contribute to impaired interlimb coordination after stroke. During bilateral, cyclical recumbent stepping (analogue of walking), interlimb coordination will be assessed as relative leg phasing. During the task, transcranial magnetic stimulation and peripheral nerve stimulation will be applied to assess supraspinal, interhemispheric, spinal interneuronal, and sensory pathways. The relation of interlimb coordination with these outcomes will be assessed to determine potential contributors. Aim 2 will test the association between interlimb coordination and walking after stroke. Interlimb coordination will be quantified during split-belt treadmill walking, and associations with walking speed, endurance, mobility, independence, daily activity, quality of life, and community engagement will be tested. An additional exploratory aim will determine the effect of targeted neuromodulation on lower limb interlimb coordination. Electrical stimulation will be applied to three locations in a cross-over study: the primary motor cortex (supraspinal/interhemispheric), thoracolumbar spine (spinal interneuronal), and peripheral nerves (sensory).

Key facts

Study ID

NCT07006818

Run by

University of Illinois at Chicago

People needed

50

Starts

2025-09-15

Expected to finish

2028-04-30

Last updated by the study team

2025-12-05

Who can join

Age: 25 and older, up to 90. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Age: 25 - 90 years of age
• Monohemispheric stroke
• Chronic phase (> 6 months post stroke)
• Ability to walk for at least 6 minutes at a self-selected comfortable speed

You may not qualify if…

• Lesions affecting the brainstem or cerebellum
• Other neurological disorders
• Current botox treatments for the lower limb
• Significant cognitive or communication impairment
• TMS exclusion criteria
• Previous adverse reaction to TMS
• Skull abnormalities or fractures
• Concussion within the prior 6 months
• Unexplained, recurring headaches
• Implanted cardiac pacemaker
• Metal implants in the head or face
• History of seizures or epilepsy
• Use of medications that could increase risk of seizure
• Current pregnancy
• PNS \& DCS exclusion criteria
• Skin hypersensitivity at any sites of stimulation, including the scalp, thoracolumbar spine, and peripheral limbs
• History of contact dermatitis at any of the sites of stimulation
• History of allodynia and/or hyperalgesia
• Active skin infection
• Skin lesions
• Deep vein thrombosis
• Any other skin or scalp condition that could be aggravated by stimulation
• Implanted electronic, metallic, or highly conductive devices near site of stimulation that cannot be removed without permission from a health professional

Where it is running

• University of Illinois at Chicago — Chicago, Illinois, United States (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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