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NCT Number: NCT07726498

STRIDE: Strength of The Calf Muscles and Their Role In Declining Effectiveness of Movement With Aging

The calf muscles (plantarflexors) are the most important muscles for walking, running and daily activities. Weakness of these muscles through aging and disease significantly impact a person's ability to walk and complete daily activities. By assessing calf strength, it is possible to identify people at risk of falls, and a condition called sarcopenia (which means loss of muscle mass, strength and function). Unfortunately, most of the studies that have examined this have used specialist equipment unavailable to hospital staff. Our study aims to use commercially available equipment to explore the relationship between plantarflexor muscle strength and physical performance in adults living with or without sarcopenia, including those at risk of it. The study will determine if stronger/weaker calf muscles associated with sarcopenia influence the ability to walk and do things more easily. We will complete strength tests of the calf, thigh and hand, assess walking using a special camera system, use an ultrasound scan to look at the Achilles tendon, use a scan to look at how stiff your calf muscles are, assess your body composition, complete a physical performance test and some questionnaires. Each participant will complete the measures during one clinic visit

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Key information

Conditions

Sarcopenia Aging Asthenia Atrophy Frailty Muscle Weakness Muscle Weakness or Atrophy Muscular Atrophy Muscular Diseases Musculoskeletal Diseases Nervous System Diseases Neurologic Manifestations Neuromuscular Manifestations Pathologic Processes Pathological Conditions, Anatomical Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

University of Leicester

Leicester, LE1 7RH, United Kingdom

Location contact

Matt Harrison, BSc MA

CONTACT

[email protected]

Matt Harrison, BSc MA

SUB_INVESTIGATOR

Seth O'Neill, PhD

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

About this study

This study aims to assess the relationship between plantarflexor (calf muscles) muscle strength and physical performance between people with and without sarcopenia. The measurements include Isometric plantarflexor strength testing, Theia markerless motion capture system, Ultrasound Tissue Characterization Imaging, Elastography, Grip strength, Isometric Knee Extension Strength Test, Bioelectrical Impedance analysis, Short Physical Performance Battery. In addition the SARC-F, Falls Efficacy Scale- International (FES-I), EuroQol- 5 Dimension (EQ-5D-5L) and Short-Form-12-health-survey (SF-12) questionnaires will be completed.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Participant is able and willing to provide informed consent to participate in the study
  • Aged 18 years or over
  • Ambulatory status: able to walk independently with or without aids
  • Able to attend clinic

Exclusion criteria

  • Participant is unwilling or unable to give informed consent.
  • Palliative/ end of life
  • Moderate to severe communication difficulties/ cognitive function
  • Immobile
  • Lower limb surgery within the last 6 months
  • Recent lower limb fracture
  • Unstable cardiopulmonary conditions
  • Severe impairments of vision or vestibular system
  • Lower limb corticosteroid injection within the last 6 months
  • No restriction on language

Treatment and study plan

No intervention (observational study)

Other

No intervention (observational study)

Primary outcomes

  1. Isometric plantarflexor strength testing

    Time frame: Baseline

    Isometric plantarflexor strength will be tested using the Fysiometer C-station

Secondary outcomes

  1. Theia markerless motion capture system

    Time frame: Baseline

    Gait will be assessed using Theia 3D (Theia Markerless Inc., Kingston, ON, Canada). Theia 3D is a commercial markerless motion capture system which uses multiple cameras to capture video footage of physical performance, tracking 124 keypoints producing 3D models. Calibration it completed prior to recording. Data is processed in Theia 3D and analysed in Visual 3D software. Measures such as gait speed and pattern, forces, joint angles, stride length and cadence will be collected.

  2. Ultrasound Tissue Characterization Imaging

    Time frame: Baseline

    Imaging of the Achilles Tendon to identify structural changes to the Achilles tendon.

  3. Elastography

    Time frame: Baseline

    Imaging of the Plantarflexors and Achilles Tendon to understand muscle stiffness and tissue mechanical properties

  4. Grip strength

    Time frame: Baseline

    A Jamar hand dynamometer will be used, measuring grip strength in kilograms

  5. Isometric Knee Extension Strength Test

    Time frame: Baseline

    Isometric Knee Extension strength will be measured using Kinvent K-Pull incline dynamometer

  6. Bioelectrical Impedance analysis

    Time frame: Baseline

    Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) will be used to estimate body composition and Skeletal Muscle Mass.

  7. Short Physical Performance Battery

    Time frame: Baseline

    It consists of three key components: balance tests, gait speed and chair stand test. Participants who are unable to complete a component score 0, whereas a score of 4 indicates highest performance of that component. Each component is scored out of 4 points with a maximum combined score of 12 points.

  8. SARC-F questionnaire

    Time frame: Baseline

    The questionnaire contains 5 questions/components, covering strength, assistance with walking, rise from a chair, climb stairs and falls. Each component is scored ranging from 0 to 2 points, with a minimum combined score of 0 and a maximal combined score of 10. A score equal to or greater than 4 is predictive of sarcopenia and poor outcomes.

  9. Falls Efficacy Scale- International (FES-I)

    Time frame: Baseline

    The questionnaire contains sixteen questions/items. Each question/item is scored on a four-point Likert scale (1- not at all concerned; 2- somewhat concerned; 3- fairly concerned; 4- very concerned). The total score ranges from 16-64.

  10. EuroQol- 5 Dimension (EQ-5D-5L)

    Time frame: Baseline

    It consists of five dimensions (mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, anxiety/depression) and a visual analogue scale where individuals rate their overall health on a scale of 0-100.

  11. Short-Form-12-health-survey (SF-12)

    Time frame: Baseline

    It measures eight domains, covering physical functioning, role physical, bodily pain, general health perception, energy/vitality, social functioning, role emotional and mental health. Two summary scores are reported (Physical Component Summary and Mental Component Summary).

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Leicester

Other

Collaborators

  • University Hospitals, Leicester

Registry information

Acronym: STRIDE

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2028
Study completion
2028
First posted
Jul 24, 2026
Registry last updated
Jul 24, 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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