Predictive factors for functional gait and physical activity in stroke
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A pilot study investigating predictive factors for functional gait and physical activity and the role of visual dependency in stroke survivors.
IRAS ID
245961
Contact name
Marousa Pavlou
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King's College London
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 4 days
Research summary
One-third of patients with stroke experience significant disability impacting on quality of life. Balance and mobility problems are among the most frequent and disabling effects of stroke. Poor gait and balance performance after stroke promote social isolation and sedentary behaviours, which have a negative effect on depression, activity levels and quality of life. In turn, depressive symptoms, activity levels, sleep and cognitive (“thinking”) function all have an additional negative impact on walking ability, balance and falls risk. However, it is currently unclear which factors are directly associated with community walking. The primary study aim (Part A) is to therefore identify the main predictive factors for functional gait (i.e. walking with head turns, stepping over an obstacle) and physical activity levels post-stroke.
A key factor that may affect walking in the community is visual dependence (VisD), defined as an over-reliance on visual information for balance. People with VisD experience symptoms, which may include disorientation and/or unsteadiness, in environments where vision cannot be used as an accurate frame of reference for upright (i.e. supermarkets, crowded streets). Thus, a secondary aim of this project (Part B) is to define whether the presence of visual dependence in stroke survivors age 18-50 years old is related to specific stroke lesion site(s).
Healthy people who are independently mobile aged between 18-80 years old and stroke survivors who have experienced a single stroke, affecting primarily the brainstem, cerebellum or middle cerebral artery, more than three months ago are eligible for the study.
The outcome of the proposed research will be used to develop targeted multifactorial balance and gait therapies for stroke survivors.
The study will take place in Centre for Human and Applied Physiological Sciences, Guy's Campus, King’s college, London. Part B will be conducted at the National Hospital for Neurology & Neurosurgery, London.REC name
East of England - Cambridge South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/EE/0111
Date of REC Opinion
5 May 2021
REC opinion
Unfavourable Opinion