Studying Fatigue and Movement After Stroke

Sponsor
Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Study ID
NCT07594938
Status
Not Yet Recruiting

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Conditions

  • Cerebro-vascular Accident
  • Hemorrhage Stroke
  • Ischemia Stroke
  • Stroke

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
ALL
Age
18 Years - N/A
Healthy Volunteers
Accepted

Study Details

The goal of this observational study is to learn how neuromuscular fatigue develops after stroke and how changes in brain activity, muscle activity, and their interaction contribute to reduced motor performance in stroke survivors compared to healthy individuals. The study will include adults with a first-ever stroke in the subacute phase and age-matched healthy volunteers. The main questions it aims to answer are: * How does neuromuscular fatigue develop during repeated muscle contractions after stroke compared to healthy individuals? * How do brain activity, muscle activity, and brain-muscle interaction change during fatigue after stroke? Researchers will compare stroke participants and healthy control participants to determine whether fatigue-related changes are more strongly associated with altered brain activity, altered muscle activity, or disrupted brain-muscle communication after stroke. Participants will: * Perform repeated leg muscle contractions until fatigue while seated in an experimental setup * Wear non-invasive sensors to record brain activity (EEG) and muscle activity (EMG) during the task * Complete the study during a single experimental session in which fatigue-related changes will be measured throughout the task

Key Dates

First listed
May 19, 2026
Start date
Sep 1, 2026
Status verified
May 2026
Primary completion
Oct 31, 2029
Completion
Oct 31, 2029

Study Design

Enrollment
120 participants (estimated)

Arms

  • Arm: Subacute stroke
    Stroke survivors will be recruited from Brussels University Hospital (Brussels, Belgium). Patients who have a first-ever stroke, ≥18 years, subacute phase: 1 week to 6 months post-stroke, quadriceps (hemiplegic side) strength ≤3/5 (Medical Research Council (MRC)), and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) ≥21 will be included. Exclusion criteria include a history of a previous stroke, severe spasticity (Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) 3-4 in quadriceps/hamstrings), other neurological, motor, musculoskeletal, or orthopedic conditions affecting trunk stability and lower limb mobility, non-cerebral strokes (e.g., brainstem, cerebellar), or dementia (MoCA ≤20), and current or former athletes.
  • Arm: Healthy participants
    Healthy age-matched controls ≥18 years and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) ≥21 will be included. Exclusion criteria include other neurological, motor, musculoskeletal, or orthopedic conditions affecting trunk stability and lower limb mobility, non-cerebral strokes (e.g., brainstem, cerebellar), or dementia (MoCA ≤20), and current or former athletes.

Primary Outcome Measure

Absolute and relative spectral power and ERD/ERS magnitude [ Time Frame: Outcome measure will be recorded at baseline and throughout the fatiguing contractions in the single experimental session (up to 40 minutes) and compared over 4 fatigue phases. ]

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