65 Participants Needed

Motor Learning for Stroke Recovery

KL
SK
KL
Overseen ByKristan Leech, PT, DPT, PhD
Age: 18+
Sex: Any
Trial Phase: Phase < 1
Sponsor: University of Southern California
No Placebo GroupAll trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Trial Summary

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. However, it does exclude those with uncontrolled hypertension and concurrent physical therapy, which might imply some medication considerations.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Motor Learning for Stroke Recovery?

Research suggests that implicit motor learning, which involves learning without conscious awareness, may be more effective than explicit learning for stroke patients, especially in tasks that require attention and working memory. This approach has shown benefits in improving motor skills and dual-task performance in stroke recovery.12345

Is motor learning for stroke recovery safe for humans?

The studies on motor learning for stroke recovery, including both implicit and explicit approaches, do not report any safety concerns, suggesting that these methods are generally safe for humans.12346

How does the treatment 'Motor Learning for Stroke Recovery' differ from other treatments for stroke recovery?

This treatment is unique because it focuses on motor learning through both explicit (conscious) and implicit (unconscious) methods, which can be particularly beneficial for stroke patients with attention and memory deficits. Unlike traditional therapies that may rely heavily on explicit instructions, this approach leverages the brain's ability to learn motor skills implicitly, potentially enhancing recovery by engaging different brain areas.23478

What is the purpose of this trial?

This project seeks to determine how post-stroke cognitive impairment moderates motor learning during walking in older adults with chronic stroke and identify brain structural markers that mediate this relationship. The chosen experimental design integrates biomechanical analyses, neuropsychological assessments, and brain imaging techniques to determine the impact of post-stroke cognitive impairment severity on two forms of motor learning (explicit and implicit) and examine the role of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in the relationship between cognition and explicit motor learning. Ultimately, this work may lead to the development of a more comprehensive, effective treatment approach to improve walking dysfunction in older adults post-stroke.

Research Team

KL

Kristan Leech, PT, DPT, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Southern California

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for older adults who had a stroke at least 6 months ago, can walk (with or without help), and have no severe cognitive deficits, dementia, uncontrolled high blood pressure, ongoing physical therapy for other conditions, or any metal implants that interfere with MRI scans.

Inclusion Criteria

I can walk on my own, even if I need a device to help.
I had a stroke that affected only one side of my body.
I can walk for 5 minutes without needing to stop.
See 4 more

Exclusion Criteria

You are afraid of being in small or confined spaces.
I have difficulty speaking or understanding speech.
I am unable to understand and agree to the study's details.
See 6 more

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants undergo biomechanical analyses, neuropsychological assessments, and brain imaging techniques to evaluate motor learning and brain structures post-stroke

4 weeks
2 testing sessions

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for retention of motor learning and changes in step length asymmetry

4 weeks

Treatment Details

Interventions

  • Explicit motor learning
  • Implicit motor learning
Trial Overview The study aims to understand how cognitive impairments after a stroke affect the ability to learn new walking skills. It involves explicit and implicit motor learning tests combined with brain imaging and biomechanical analysis to see how these factors interact.
Participant Groups
1Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Group I: Evaluating motor learning and brain structures post-strokeExperimental Treatment2 Interventions
We will use a single arm design to determine the impact of post-stroke cognitive impairment on two forms of motor learning (implicit and explicit) and evaluate the structural integrity of relevant brain structures in 65 individuals post stroke

Find a Clinic Near You

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Southern California

Lead Sponsor

Trials
956
Recruited
1,609,000+

Findings from Research

This study involves 52 participants with chronic stroke who will practice reaching movements in a virtual reality environment over 9 weeks, aiming to assess the effectiveness of error augmentation feedback on improving upper limb movement patterns.
The research will explore how cognitive impairments and brain injury characteristics affect the ability to learn motor skills implicitly, potentially guiding future rehabilitation strategies for stroke patients.
The use of enhanced intrinsic feedback for motor learning in stroke survivors: Clinical trial protocol.Rajda, CM., Feldman, AG., Boudrias, MH., et al.[2023]
In a study involving 17 stroke patients and 21 control participants, implicit motor learning was found to be significantly more effective than explicit learning for stroke patients when performing dual tasks, indicating a potential advantage for rehabilitation strategies.
The results suggest that implicit learning approaches can enhance motor skill acquisition in post-stroke patients, particularly for those with attention and working memory deficits, as evidenced by correlations with performance on the Trail Making Test.
Implicit Motor Learning Strategies Benefit Dual-Task Performance in Patients with Stroke.Arikawa, E., Kubota, M., Haraguchi, T., et al.[2023]
In a study involving 79 stroke patients in the chronic phase of recovery, both implicit and explicit motor learning interventions showed no significant difference in improving walking speed after 3 weeks of training, indicating that neither method was superior.
The study suggests that physical therapists can effectively use both implicit and explicit motor learning strategies to enhance walking speed in stroke patients, as both approaches can be tailored to individual needs.
Implicit and Explicit Motor Learning Interventions Have Similar Effects on Walking Speed in People After Stroke: A Randomized Controlled Trial.Jie, LJ., Kleynen, M., Meijer, K., et al.[2021]

References

The use of enhanced intrinsic feedback for motor learning in stroke survivors: Clinical trial protocol. [2023]
Implicit Motor Learning Strategies Benefit Dual-Task Performance in Patients with Stroke. [2023]
Implicit and Explicit Motor Learning Interventions Have Similar Effects on Walking Speed in People After Stroke: A Randomized Controlled Trial. [2021]
Impact of explicit information on implicit motor-sequence learning following middle cerebral artery stroke. [2022]
Is Implicit Motor Learning Preserved after Stroke? A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis. [2018]
International randomized clinical trial, stroke inpatient rehabilitation with reinforcement of walking speed (SIRROWS), improves outcomes. [2021]
Implicit sequence-specific motor learning after subcortical stroke is associated with increased prefrontal brain activations: an fMRI study. [2022]
Implicit learning of a perceptual-motor skill after stroke. [2019]
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