NCT02232867

Arm and Leg Cycling Exercise After Stroke

Adjunct Locomotor Training to Improve Walking Ability After Stroke

• Status: Unknown
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 20 (estimated)
• Sponsor: University of Victoria · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: —
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

It has been found that arm and leg cycling is similar to walking in terms of the muscle activation patterns and joint ranges of motion. In addition, arm and leg cycling and walking activate similar neural pathways. Another advantage of arm and leg cycling is that it involves coordination of all four limbs in a rhythmic movement. This may be particularly beneficial given previous findings that arm movement contributes to the activation of leg muscles during walking in humans. This is achieved with interconnected neural pathways that link the arms to the legs. These neural interlimb connections remain intact in stroke victims, such that maximizing the contribution of the arms to the legs may increase coordination for walking. Thus, the objectives of this research are to determine if arm and leg cycling can be used to increase the strength of interlimb connections and if this helps to improve walking ability in a post-stroke population. It is hypothesized that arm and leg cycling will transfer to improvements in walking in a post stroke population.

Detailed description

For those who have suffered a stroke, damage to the brain can result in a decreased ability to walk, thus decreasing quality of life in a significant way. Traditionally, body weight supported treadmill training has been used for walking rehabilitation; however, this therapy requires specialized technicians, equipment, and facilities. Arm and leg cycle ergometers, a device commonly found in a gym, could provide an inexpensive and readily accessible means for walking rehabilitation.

Conditions

• Stroke

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Arm and Leg Cycling Exercise Program	Participants will perform arm and leg cycling training three times a week, with 30 minutes of aggregate exercise time per session. To evaluate the physiological cost of exercise, heart rate and a rating of perceived exertion will be collected. The progressive element of this training will include increasing the resistance of the ergometer over the six weeks in order to maintain the same relative exercise stress.

Timeline

• Start date: 2011-07-01
• Primary completion: 2014-12-01
• Completion: 2015-03-01
• First posted: 2014-09-05
• Last updated: 2014-09-05

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Canada