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Completed

NCT Number: NCT07709130

Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation and Dual-task Gait Training in Chronic Stroke

Rhythmic auditory stimulation and dual-task gait training may improve post-stroke mobility, but evidence regarding integrated programmes and age-related differences in treatment response remains limited. The aim of the study is to evaluate changes in mobility, balance, motor dual-task performance, concern about falling, and health-related quality of life after a six-week combined programme, and to explore whether responses differed across age strata.

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Key information

Conditions

Stroke Auditory Task Brain Diseases Cardiovascular Diseases Central Nervous System Diseases Cerebrovascular Disorders Dual Task Gait Training Nervous System Diseases Vascular Diseases

Age range

Up to 72 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Recep Tayyip Erdogan University

Rize, Turkey (Türkiye)

About this study

This prospective single-group pre-post study included individuals with chronic stroke. Participants completed supervised rhythmic auditory stimulation and progressively intensified motor dual-task gait training three times weekly for six weeks. Outcomes included motor dual-task performance, Timed Up and Go, bilateral single-leg stance, Mini-BESTest, Falls Efficacy Scale-International, and SF-36. An independent assessor, unaware of previous scores and age-stratum allocation, conducted baseline and post-intervention assessments. Prespecified exploratory analyses compared changes across age strata.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • age ≥45 years
  • stroke ≥6 months previously
  • ability to walk at least 10 m independently or with minimal assistance
  • sufficient hearing to follow rhythmic auditory cues

Exclusion criteria

  • advanced aphasia
  • severe neglect, cognitive impairment,
  • marked visual impairment,
  • severe spasticity (Modified Ashworth Scale score15 ≥3)
  • severe cardiopulmonary disease
  • vestibular dysfunction
  • an orthopaedic condition limiting walking
  • progressive neurological disease

Treatment and study plan

Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation and Motor Dual-Task Gait Training Programme

Other

The intervention combined RAS with progressively intensified motor dual-task gait training.6 Participants completed a supervised six-week programme comprising three 30-minute sessions per week (18 sessions; planned dose, 540 minutes). During each session, they synchronized their steps with a metronome while performing tandem walking with progressively demanding object-carrying tasks. Participants maintained their usual walking speed and were instructed to give equal attention to gait and the concurrent motor task. Progression was designed by the research team in accordance with general motor-learning principles and involved predefined weekly increases in metronome tempo and concurrent motor-task complexity. provided that the preceding stage had been completed safely. All sessions were delivered individually by the same licensed physiotherapist experienced in neurology.

Primary outcomes

  1. Motor dual-task performance

    Time frame: at baseline and after the six-week programme

    Participants completed a 10-m walk at their comfortable speed under single-task and motor dual-task conditions. In the dual-task condition, they carried a ball while walking and were instructed to give equal attention to both tasks. Three trials were performed under each condition, and mean completion time was used in the analysis. Positive values indicated greater dual-task interference.

  2. Functional mobility

    Time frame: at baseline and after the six-week programme

    Functional mobility was assessed using the Timed Up and Go test, with shorter completion times indicating better performance. One familiarization trial preceded the timed assessment.

  3. Balance

    Time frame: at baseline and after the six-week programme

    Dynamic balance was assessed using the 14-item Mini-BESTest, which evaluates anticipatory postural adjustments, reactive postural control, sensory orientation, and dynamic gait. Total scores range from 0 to 28, with higher scores indicating better balance. Static balance was assessed bilaterally using the Single-Leg Stance Test. Two trials were performed on each side, and the longest duration before foot contact, stance-foot movement, or loss of balance was recorded.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Recep Tayyip Erdogan University

Other

Collaborators

  • İstanbul Yeni Yüzyıl Üniversitesi

Registry information

Official study title

Combined Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation and Dual-task Gait Training in Individuals With Chronic Stroke: a Pre-post Study With Exploratory Age-stratified Analyses

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Jul 16, 2026
Registry last updated
Jul 16, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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