StrokeFASTNCT01573585
Fast Muscle Activation and Stepping Training (FAST) Post-stroke
A study testing FAST protocol in people with Stroke and Hemiparesis, run by University of British Columbia at 2 sites in Canada.
Trial summary
The purpose of this study is to determine whether FAST (Fast muscle Activation and Stepping Training) exercises will improve walking balance in individuals after stroke to a greater extent than usual care. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 19 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Stroke, Hemiparesis
- What is being tested?
- FAST protocol
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 55 participants
- Where
- 2 sitesCanada
- Study dates
- 1 Nov 2012to 30 Jun 2017
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 19 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- first stroke (<6 months ago)
- presence of hemiparesis in the lower extremity
- minimum Berg Balance Score (BBS) of 30/56
- cognitive ability to give informed consent
Who cannot join
- bilateral stroke, or a previous stroke in the other hemisphere
- severe co-morbidity that is likely to dominate the pattern of care
- co-existing peripheral neuropathies or disorders of the vestibular apparatus
- musculoskeletal problems
- global aphasia or receptive aphasia
Trial locations and contacts
2 sites in 1 country.
Canada2 sites
Lions Gate Hospital
North Vancouver, British Columbia, V7L 2L7
Holy Family Hospital
Vancouver, British Columbia, V5P 3L6
About this study
Official title: Effectiveness of Fast Muscle Activation and Stepping Training (FAST) on Balance and Mobility Post-stroke
The purpose of this study is to determine whether FAST (Fast muscle Activation and Stepping Training) exercises will improve walking balance in individuals after stroke to a greater extent than usual care.
Hypothesis: The primary hypothesis is that improvements in walking balance will be larger following 12 sessions of FAST exercise retraining compared to usual care in persons in the sub-acute phase after stroke.
Read the detailed description
It is estimated that 75-80% of individuals who have had a stroke will survive the acute event and be left with residual disability. Regaining independence in standing and walking is of utmost importance for patients recovering from stroke. Walking balance requires muscles in the legs and trunk to contract quickly if people lose their balance. Physical therapy plays a key role in the rehabilitation of walking balance in individuals after stroke. Given that maintaining one's balance requires fast muscle activity, rehabilitation post-stroke should focus on speed of movement. Thus we are proposing to compare a program that emphasizes speed of movement, Fast muscle Activation and Stepping Training versus an active control (usual care).
- Conditions
- Stroke, Hemiparesis
- Being tested
- Usual Care, FAST protocol
- Keywords
- Physical Therapy, Exercise therapy
- Medical subject headings
- Stroke, Paresis
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Usual CareBehavioural
The Usual Care program will consist of 2 sessions a week for 45 minutes for a 6 week duration.
FAST protocolBehavioural
The Fast muscle activation and Stepping Training (FAST protocol) will be exercises emphasizing speed, small squats and protective steps, that will be progressed. This program will be 2 sessions a week for 45 minutes for 6 weeks in duration.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Usual care | Active comparator | The usual care will consist of strength training, endurance, range of motion, patient education, weight shifting in standing and gait re-training. Receives: Behavioral: Usual Care |
| FAST protocol | Experimental | The Fast muscle activation and stepping training will be the Experimental arm of this trial. This program will be exercises emphasizing speed of movement. Receives: Behavioral: FAST protocol |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Community Balance and Mobility Scale
Measured: Pre treatment and Post treatment (6 weeks)
Secondary outcomes (4)
Gait assessment
Self selected speed and changes in electromyography
Measured: Pre treatment, Post treatment (6 weeks) and Retention (+1 month after treatment)
Physiological balance assessment by internal and external perturbations
Electromyography and Center of pressure changes
Measured: Pre treatment, Post treatment (6 weeks) and Retention (+1 month after treatment)
Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale
Measured: Pre treatment, Post treatment (6 weeks) and Retention (+1 month after treatment)
Community Balance and Mobility Scale
Measured: Post treatment and Retention (+1 month after treatment)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted9 Apr 2012 (estimated)
- Study start1 Nov 2012
- Primary completion31 Mar 2017
- Study completion30 Jun 2017
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (2)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for StrokeStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University of British ColumbiaThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 55 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of British Columbia
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Jayne Garland, University of British Columbia
- Investigators
- S. Jayne Garland, PT, PhD, Principal investigator, University of British Columbia
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT01573585
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- H12-00837
- Acronym
- FAST
- Status last verified
- Jun 2016
- First submitted
- 5 Apr 2012
- Last updated
- 1 May 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Miller KJ, Hunt MA, Pollock CL, Bryant D, Garland SJ. Protocol for a randomized controlled clinical trial investigating the effectiveness of Fast muscle Activation and Stepping Training (FAST) for improving balance and mobility in sub-acute stroke. BMC Neurol. 2014 Oct 10;14:187. doi: 10.1186/s12883-014-0187-y.
PubMed 25300433Peters S, Ivanova TD, Lakhani B, Boyd LA, Garland SJ. Neuroplasticity of Cortical Planning for Initiating Stepping Poststroke: A Case Series. J Neurol Phys Ther. 2020 Apr;44(2):164-172. doi: 10.1097/NPT.0000000000000311.
PubMed 32168159
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 1 May 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effectiveness of Fast Muscle Activation and Stepping Training (FAST) on Balance and Mobility Post-stroke
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT01573585
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- FAST / H12-00837
- Conditions
- Stroke, Hemiparesis
- Keywords
- Physical Therapy, Exercise therapy
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 55 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University of British ColumbiaUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada
- Study start
- 1 Nov 2012 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 31 Mar 2017 (actual)
- Study completion
- 30 Jun 2017 (actual)
- First posted
- 9 Apr 2012 (estimated)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The purpose of this study is to determine whether FAST (Fast muscle Activation and Stepping Training) exercises will improve walking balance in individuals after stroke to a greater extent than usual care.
Hypothesis: The primary hypothesis is that improvements in walking balance will be larger following 12 sessions of FAST exercise retraining compared to usual care in persons in the sub-acute phase after stroke.
Detailed description
It is estimated that 75-80% of individuals who have had a stroke will survive the acute event and be left with residual disability. Regaining independence in standing and walking is of utmost importance for patients recovering from stroke. Walking balance requires muscles in the legs and trunk to contract quickly if people lose their balance. Physical therapy plays a key role in the rehabilitation of walking balance in individuals after stroke. Given that maintaining one's balance requires fast muscle activity, rehabilitation post-stroke should focus on speed of movement. Thus we are proposing to compare a program that emphasizes speed of movement, Fast muscle Activation and Stepping Training versus an active control (usual care).
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Usual care | Active comparator | Behavioral: Usual CareThe usual care will consist of strength training, endurance, range of motion, patient education, weight shifting in standing and gait re-training. |
| FAST protocol | Experimental | Behavioral: FAST protocolThe Fast muscle activation and stepping training will be the Experimental arm of this trial. This program will be exercises emphasizing speed of movement. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 19 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- first stroke (<6 months ago)
- presence of hemiparesis in the lower extremity
- minimum Berg Balance Score (BBS) of 30/56
- cognitive ability to give informed consent
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- bilateral stroke, or a previous stroke in the other hemisphere
- severe co-morbidity that is likely to dominate the pattern of care
- co-existing peripheral neuropathies or disorders of the vestibular apparatus
- musculoskeletal problems
- global aphasia or receptive aphasia
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Usual CareThe Usual Care program will consist of 2 sessions a week for 45 minutes for a 6 week duration. | Behavioural | Usual care |
| FAST protocolThe Fast muscle activation and Stepping Training (FAST protocol) will be exercises emphasizing speed, small squats and protective steps, that will be progressed. This program will be 2 sessions a week for 45 minutes for 6 weeks in duration. | Behavioural | FAST protocol |
Primary outcome
Community Balance and Mobility Scale
Time frame: Pre treatment and Post treatment (6 weeks)
4 secondary outcomes
Gait assessment
Time frame: Pre treatment, Post treatment (6 weeks) and Retention (+1 month after treatment)
Physiological balance assessment by internal and external perturbations
Time frame: Pre treatment, Post treatment (6 weeks) and Retention (+1 month after treatment)
Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale
Time frame: Pre treatment, Post treatment (6 weeks) and Retention (+1 month after treatment)
Community Balance and Mobility Scale
Time frame: Post treatment and Retention (+1 month after treatment)
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 1 May 2026.
- Background: PubMed 25300433Miller KJ, Hunt MA, Pollock CL, Bryant D, Garland SJ. Protocol for a randomized controlled clinical trial investigating the effectiveness of Fast muscle Activation and Stepping Training (FAST) for improving balance and mobility in sub-acute stroke. BMC Neurol. 2014 Oct 10;14:187. doi: 10.1186/s12883-014-0187-y.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 32168159Peters S, Ivanova TD, Lakhani B, Boyd LA, Garland SJ. Neuroplasticity of Cortical Planning for Initiating Stepping Poststroke: A Case Series. J Neurol Phys Ther. 2020 Apr;44(2):164-172. doi: 10.1097/NPT.0000000000000311.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
S. Jayne Garland, PT, PhD principal investigator
University of British Columbia
2 sites in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing FAST protocol in people with Stroke and Hemiparesis, run by University of British Columbia at 2 sites in Canada.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 1 May 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 2 sites in Canada. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Community Balance and Mobility Scale (time frame: Pre treatment and Post treatment (6 weeks)). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT01573585, which also lists 2 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 1 May 2026.