NCT06474117

Muscle-tendon Interaction in the Spastic Sural Triceps During Gait

• Status: Completed
• Phase: —
• Study type: Observational
• Enrollment: 64 (actual)
• Sponsor: Nantes University Hospital · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

This project aims to study the mechanical behavior of the muscle-tendon unit (MTU) of the gastrocnemius medialis (GM) and the Achilles tendon (AT) in post-stroke and spinal cord injured (SCI) patients compared to a healthy population, focusing on the variations in muscle and tendon length during the stance phase of the gait cycle. The primary objective is to assess the respective contributions of the GM and AT lengthening in the MTU during walking. Inclusion criteria include adult post-stroke and post-SCI patients with voluntary motor function and some walking capacity. Methods include ultrasound measurements and 3D gait analysis.

Detailed description

Primary Objective: Evaluate the respective contributions of the gastrocnemius medialis (GM) muscle and the Achilles tendon (AT) within the muscle-tendon unit (MTU) during the single support phase of walking in post-stroke patients compared to healthy subjects. Study Description: Strokes often lead to spastic paresis, degrading patients' walking performance. Instrumented gait analysis allows for the evaluation of these performances to propose adapted therapeutic strategies. This project will compare muscle and tendon behavior during walking between healthy individuals and post-stroke patients. Methodology: * Participants: Adult post-stroke patients or incomplete SCI patients with voluntary motor function on the triceps surae and walking capacity. Control group composed of healthy adults. * Procedures: * Measure the force/length profile of the GM on an isokinetic dynamometer with simultaneous ultrasound. * Conduct gait analysis coupled with ultrasound to measure the lengths of the AT and GM. * Compare muscle and tendon length data during the stance phase of the gait cycle between the two groups.

Conditions

• Spinal Cord Injuries
• Stroke

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Gait analysis coupled with ultrasound	Measure the lengths of the Achilles tendon and gastrocnemius medialis muscle
OTHER	Isokinetic dynamometer with simultaneous ultrasound	Measure the force/length profile of the gastrocnemius medialis muscle

Timeline

• Start date: 2024-11-15
• Primary completion: 2026-02-17
• Completion: 2026-02-17
• First posted: 2024-06-25
• Last updated: 2026-03-04

Locations

1 site across 1 country: France