Optimizing Gait Rehabilitation After Stroke

Following a cerebrovascular accident (CVA, also known as a stroke), hemiparesis occurs on the side opposite to the brain injury. This can lead to problems with walking and balance, as well as with arm movements whilst walking. The arm swing serves several important functions whilst walking, such as improving your balance and energy efficiency, and a good arm swing helps to reduce the likelihood of falling if you lose your balance. That is why regaining the ability to walk independently with the best possible arm swing is a key goal during rehabilitation for people who have had a stroke. This ensures that the risk of falling is minimised and that people can resume their daily lives as effectively as possible. The aim of this study is to gain a better understanding of the abnormalities in arm swing whilst walking in people who have had a stroke, and how we can influence them. To identify these abnormalities, we use surface electromyography, a painless technique that allows us to measure muscle activity whilst walking. To do this, we attach sensors to the muscles whose activity we wish to record. During this study, we are measuring both people who have had a stroke and healthy adults, in order to detect the effects of a stroke on this muscle activity. The data from the healthy adults will be used to investigate whether we observe different muscle activity in people who have had a stroke.

Inclusion Criteria Stroke: * First-ever ischemic or haemorrhagic stroke * Able to walk independently (FAC ≥ 3) * Able to walk at least ten minutes * No full recovery of the paretic upper limb (FMA-UL \< 66) * Able to follow simple instructions during the assessment Exclusion Criteria Stroke: * Lesions located in the cerebellum * Pre-existing neurological disorders that affect motor function (e.g., Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, dementia, etc.) * Pre-existing orthopaedic disorders of the upper and/or lower limbs (e.g., shoulder prosthesis, knee prosthesis, etc.) * Inability to provide written informed consent * Inability to understand instructions (AbilityQ: verbal \< 3/4 and VAS \< 3/3) Exclusion Criteria Healthy: * Pre-existing neurological disorders that affect motor function (e.g., Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, dementia, etc.) * Pre-existing orthopaedic disorders of the upper and/or lower limbs (e.g., shoulder prosthesis, knee prosthesis, etc.) * Injuries of the upper and/or lower limbs that occurred six months or less prior to the time of testing * Current pain or ROM limitations at the time of testing * Inability to provide written informed consent