Gait Training in Post-Stroke Hemiparesis Hemiparesis

This study will include twenty stroke survivors and twenty healthy adults (total 40 participants) who are 20 years or older. Both groups (stroke vs healthy) will be screened and recruited from a UTMB Stroke Support Group and local community in Galveston or Harris County for one year (2021-22). Healthy individuals will also participate in gait training compared to stroke participants. The focus of this gait training is to optimize the delivery of a combined strength and aerobic training regimen to older adults with post stroke hemiparesis and reduce overuse and inefficiencies associated with the nonparetic leg during walking. Investigators propose to use a combination of neuromechanical and biobehavioral approaches to enhance bilateral symmetry of limb propulsion using specialized split-belt, force-plate instrumented treadmill that uses backward directed resistance forces. With neuromechanics investigators will measure joint torque output, EMG muscle activity patterns, and trailing limb angle, while a person is walking under normal treadmill belt conditions versus the split-belt conditions at different levels of resistance. Electromyography (EMG) detects electrical activity during muscle contraction while the single or the split-belt treadmill walking. The joint torque output and trailing limb angle can be obtained by using the Vicon Motion System (Vicon, Oxford, UK) in conjunction with the Bertec split-belt, force plates instrumented treadmill (Bertec Corp., Columbus, OH). In addition, in terms of biobehavioral metrics, investigators will measure the extent to which people maintain improved paretic limb propulsion contributions immediately after the split-belt environment is restored to a single belt condition (i.e. aftereffects), and the ability of individuals to consciously alter their walking pattern so as to reduce compensatory walking patterns when they are not engaged with the specialized treadmill setup.

Inclusion criteria

• Healthy individuals, ages 20 or older
• Healthy participants will be required to be medically stable
• Healthy participants are able to walk at least 10 meters independently at a comfortable speed without an assistive device
• The participants with a history stroke, ages 20 or older
• Unilateral first stroke of ischemic origin in the carotid artery distribution
• Unilateral first stroke of hemorrhagic origin in the carotid artery distribution
• Diagnosis of stroke at least 6 months prior to participation
• Free of major post-stroke complications (e.g., recurrent stroke, hip fracture, myocardial infarction)
• Living within the community
• The participants with a history stroke are able to ambulate 10 meters with or without assistive devices

Exclusion criteria

• A history of any significant orthopedic problems
• A history of psychiatric or cognitive illness (e.g., bipolar affective disorder, psychosis, schizophrenia, attention deficits, cognitive deficits, or medication refractor depression)
• Neurological problems
• Stroke secondary to subarachnoid hemorrhage or posterior circulation stroke
• Not expected to live more than one year
• Comatose
• Unable to follow 3 step commands
• Amputation
• Poorly controlled diabetes (e.g., foot ulceration)
• Blind
• Progressive neurological diseases
• Comprehensive aphasia
• Medical instability
• Significant musculoskeletal problems
• Congestive cardiac failure
• Unstable angina
• Peripheral vascular disease
• Neuropsychiatric disorders (e.g., dementia, cognitive deficits, and severe depression)