Effects of rTMS Combined With Dual-Task Gait Training on Walking and Cognition After Stroke
Recruiting now · Not applicable · Has a placebo group
Conditions studied: Stroke
In brief
This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial will investigate whether repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) applied to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) can enhance the effects of dual-task gait training in people with chronic stroke. Participants will be randomly allocated to receive either active rTMS or sham rTMS immediately before the same standardized dual-task gait training program. The intervention includes 12 sessions over 3 weeks. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline, immediately after training, and at 4-week follow-up. Co-primary outcomes are dual-task mobility and cognitive performance during walking, quantified using dual-task cost (DTC) for gait speed and cognitive-task performance during dual-task walking (e.g., Serial 7s; Shopping List Recall). Secondary outcomes include balance/mobility, community participation, mood/sleep measures, and fall incidence. To explore mechanisms, prefrontal cortex activity during single- and dual-task walking will be recorded using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), and mediation analyses will examine whether changes in PFC activity explain intervention effects.
Key facts
- Study ID
- NCT07356687
- Run by
- The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
- People needed
- 184
- Starts
- 2026-01-21
- Expected to finish
- 2029-01-01
- Last updated by the study team
- 2026-07-10
Who can join
Age: 50 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.
You may qualify if…
- Unilateral ischemic or hemorrhagic hemispheric stroke
- Age ≥ 50 years
- ≥ 6 months post-stroke
- Medically stable
- Able to walk independently ≥ 1 minute (assistive device allowed)
- Able to follow commands
- mRS 1-3
- MoCA ≥ 22
You may not qualify if…
- Other neurological disorders
- Cerebellar/brainstem injury
- TMS contraindications (e.g., pacemaker, intracranial metal, seizure history, pregnancy)
- Contraindications to exercise (e.g., unstable angina)
- Severe aphasia (NIHSS item 9 ≥ 2)
- Pain/illness limiting performance
- Concurrent formal rehabilitation elsewhere
- RMT cannot be determined
- Fails TMS safety screening
Where it is running
- The Hong Kong Polytechnic University — Hong Kong, HongKong, Hong Kong (enrolling)
Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov
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