Efficacy of Treadmill Walking With Hidden Vision for Rehabilitation in the Subacute Phase of Stroke

Trial details

Who runs it

Centre Hospitalier Régional Metz-Thionville

Trial code

NCT06972355

Record updated

1 October 2025

Original description

Objective: The aim of this study is to compare the efficiency of vision-obscured versus vision-retained treadmill gait training in subacute post-stroke patients.Read full original descriptionShow less

Efficacy of Treadmill Walking With Hidden Vision for Rehabilitation in the Subacute Phase of Stroke, Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective: The aim of this study is to compare the efficiency of vision-obscured versus vision-retained treadmill gait training in subacute post-stroke patients.

Methodology: Thirty-six patients with stroke (ischemic or hemorrhagic) less than six months old will be included and randomized into two parallel groups. The experimental group will undergo treadmill gait training using an opaque mask, combined with body weight reduction (Lite Gait® harness). The control group will follow the same walking protocol, but with their eyes open. Each session will last 20 minutes, integrated into one hour of rehabilitation, at a rate of three sessions per week for six weeks. Assessment will include single- and double-task walking speed, balance parameters and proprioception.

Expected results: The hypothesis is that visual deprivation will stimulate the proprioceptive and vestibular systems to a greater extent, resulting in benefits for postural balance, walking and proprioception. The main hypothesis will be the improvement in the difference between single-task and double-task walking speed. Analyses will be conducted on an intention-to-treat basis, using statistical tests adapted to the nature of the variables.

Conclusion: This study could highlight the value of temporary visual suppression as a therapeutic lever in stroke rehabilitation.

Inclusion: 18 years of age or older,; With a confirmed diagnosis of ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke in sub-acute phase (stroke less than 6 months old),; With NIHSS scores between 1 and 15 and MoCA scores between 18 and 30; With a physiotherapy prescription for post Stroke rehabilitation; Able to walk for 20 min on a treadmill with weight reduction with pauses, able to maintain bipodal balance, able to maintain bipodal balance with eyes open and closed for 30 seconds,; Having expressed free, informed and written consent; Affiliated with a social security scheme.

Exclusion: Inability to physically participate in intensive rehabilitation due to severe, unstabilized and comorbidities (heart, lung, kidney disease or diabetes), severe psychiatric disorders cancer active or under treatment; Patients weighing over 200 kg (maximum weight permitted for use of the Lite Gait ®),; Patients with impaired vision:; Best corrected visual acuity below 5/10 on patient examination; Homonymous lateral hemianopia, quadranopia; Patients participating in other interventional research,; Pregnant or breast-feeding women,; Patients under guardianship.

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06972355