NCT07327814

Effect of Mental Arithmetic Priming on Gait and Balance in Stroke

Mental Calculus Can Enhance Gait Performance in Post-Stroke Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial

• Status: Not Yet Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 17 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Lebanese University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 60 Years – 80 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

This study investigates the effect of cognitive priming through mental arithmetic on functional mobility in post-stroke patients. It hypothesizes that performing mental calculations (addition, subtraction, multiplication) prior to movement stimulates frontoparietal networks, thereby improving gait speed and dynamic balance compared to a passive control condition.

Detailed description

Stroke often results in impaired sensorimotor integration and executive dysfunction, leading to gait and balance deficits. Emerging evidence suggests a link between numerical cognition and motor control networks. This randomized controlled trial compares an experimental group (performing 30-second mental arithmetic tasks) against a control group (passive visual exposure). Functional mobility is assessed immediately following the cognitive stimulus using the Ten-Meter Walk Test (10mWT) and the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test to evaluate the immediate "priming" effects of cognitive load on motor performance.

Conditions

• Stroke
• Hemiparesis
• Gait Disorders
• Posture
• Disorders

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Mental Arithmetic	Visual presentation of arithmetic equations (Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication) projected on a screen. Participants must calculate and verbally report the answer within a 10-second window per equation.
BEHAVIORAL	Passive Viewing	Passive viewing of a black screen with no cognitive demand.

Timeline

• Start date: 2026-02-11
• Primary completion: 2026-05-01
• Completion: 2026-06-01
• First posted: 2026-01-08
• Last updated: 2026-02-12