Muscle Synergies After Stroke

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The aim of this systematic review was to determine the number of muscle synergies and the distribution of muscle weightings in stroke patients during gait.

Detailed Description
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The aim of this systematic review was to determine the number of muscle synergies and the distribution of muscle weightings in stroke patients during gait. Although literature has suggested that merging of synergies occurs after stroke and that a larger number of is associated with increased motor function if compared with healthy adults. IIt is still unknown if this hypothesis is also relevant when comparing different functional levels within a stroke population and what functional impact of altered synergies on walking behavior is.

Official Title
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Are Spatial and Temporal Muscle Synergy Modules Related to Functional Ability After Stroke?

Conditions
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Stroke

Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria Stroke: haemorrhagic or ischaemic stroke diagnosis, confirmed on the basis of CT or MRI imaging; no known history of previous stroke; stroke onset within five months; 4 patients are between 18 and 85 years of age; Exclusion Criteria Stroke: A score of 20 or higher on the Trunk Impairment Scale which indicates normal truncal function; A score lower than two on the Functional Ambulation Categories (FAC) as patients needed to be able to ambulate without physical support to ensure that gait analysis can be executed safely; Not able to sit independently for 30 seconds on a stable surface; They suffer from other neurological and orthopaedic disorders that could influence motor performance and balance; not able to understand instructions.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 85 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Stroke<br>Individuals suffered from a haemorrhagic or ischaemic stroke. Diagnosis has to be confirmed on the basis of CT or MRI imaging. | |
| Healthy adults<br>Healthy individuals without any neurological or orthopaedic disorder that could influence motor performance and balance | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Amount of muscle synergies derived by non-negative matrix factorization | Spatial characteristic of muscle synergy compared to healthy adults: the amount of synergies during walking in stroke subjects, the amount of muscles in one synergie and which muscles in one synergy | Once, in the week of inclusion | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Distribution of muscle synerigies derived by non-negative matrix factorization | Temporal characteristic of muscle synergy compared to healthy adults: When are these synergies active during the gait cycle (100%). | Once, in the week of inclusion | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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gait, functional ability, muscle synergies