StrokeNCT07155161
Backward Walking and Related Factors in Individuals With Stroke
An observational study of Stroke, run by Gaziantep Islam Science and Technology University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
Objective: To examine the relationship between backward walking ability and lower extremity function, proprioception, trunk control, and balance in individuals with stroke. Thirty individuals aged 30-85 who have had a stroke will be included in our study. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 30 to 85 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Stroke
- What is being tested?
- Assesment
- How many people
- 30 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 15 Sep 2025to 25 Sep 2026
- Phase
- Observational
- 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 30 to 85 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Study population: Stroke Patients
Who may be able to join
- who can walk 10 meters without physical assistance,
- Lower extremity functions are in stages 2-6 of the Brunnstrom motor recovery scale,
- Have been at least 3 days and no more than 24 months post-stroke,
- Scored 24 or higher on the Mini Mental Test
Who cannot join
- Individuals with neurological or orthopedic problems other than stroke that affect walking,
- A history of cardiovascular or rheumatological diseases that interfere with daily activities,
- A lower extremity lesion or fracture,
- Lower extremity spasticity of 4 on the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS),
- Aphasia or communication disorders
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Turkey (Türkiye)1 site
Gaziantep Islam Science and Technology University
Gaziantep
About this study
Official title: Relationship Backwalking Ability and Lower Extremity Function, Proprioception, Trunk Control, And Balance Iduals With Stroke
Objective: To examine the relationship between backward walking ability and lower extremity function, proprioception, trunk control, and balance in individuals with stroke. Thirty individuals aged 30-85 who have had a stroke will be included in our study. Individuals with stroke who can walk 10 m without physical assistance, whose lower extremity functions are in the Brunnstrom motor recovery stages 2-6, who have been post-stroke for at least 3 days and up to 24 months, and who score 24 or higher on the Mini Mental Test will be included. Demographic information of individuals with stroke who meet the inclusion criteria will be recorded in a personal information form. Lower extremity function will be evaluated with the 3-meter back walking test (3MGYT), proprioception with the Fugl Meyer lower extremity assessment scale, with a digital goniometer, trunk control with the Trunk Impairment scale, and balance with the Brief BESTTest.
Read the detailed description
Stroke survivors often experience lower walking performance and muscle strength than healthy individuals. Despite advances in acute stroke treatment, patients continue to require rehabilitation due to spasticity, upper and lower extremity dysfunction, shoulder and back pain, dysphagia, and deficits in mobility and gait, vision, perception, and communication. Approximately 40% of patients experience functional impairment after stroke onset, and 15-30% experience severe motor, sensory, and cognitive impairments. While some patients lose ambulation completely after stroke, in others, impaired balance reactions and increased postural sway contribute to fear of falling and an increased risk of falling. Walking backwards is necessary to perform activities of daily living, such as leaning back in a chair and opening a door. This movement can be particularly challenging for the elderly and individuals with neurological deficits. Mechanical measurements of backward walking, particularly speed, stride length, and double support base, have been noted to significantly decrease in older adults. It suggests that the inability to take effective backward steps may predispose older adults to a decrease in functional walking ability and an increased risk of falls. Therefore, we believe that identifying the factors that influence backward walking ability in stroke survivors will contribute to rehabilitation programs that include walking training. This study is the first to examine the factors that influence backward walking ability in stroke patients in relation to proprioception, trunk control, lower extremity function, and balance.
- Conditions
- Stroke
- Being tested
- Assesment
- Keywords
- stroke, back ward walking, proprioception, trunk control, balance
- Medical subject headings
- Stroke
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
AssesmentOther
assessment
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Stroke | Stroke Patients Receives: Other: Assesment |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
3 meter backward walking
In the 3MBT, a three-meter distance will be measured on a flat surface and the start and end will be marked. The patient will be asked to walk backward when prompted to start, and will be asked to stop when prompted to stop. Individuals will be allowed to look back if they wish. For safety reasons, the tester will be allowed to walk with the patients. Measurements will be repeated three times and averaged.
Measured: At baseline
Fugl-Meyer Lower Extremity Scale
The Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) is a stroke-specific, performance-based measure. Measurements are taken with the patient seated on a flat bed, such as a stretcher. Each parameter is scored as 0: Failure, 1: Partially Successful, and 2: Completely Successful. Motor function and sensory sections of the scale are used. The motor function assessment section is scored as 100 points, with 66 for the upper extremities and 34 for the lower extremities, and the sensory assessment section, which includes light touch and position sense, is scored as 24 points. A higher score indicates a better condition. It is a widely used, reliable, and valid test for assessing paretic upper and lower extremity motor impairments in stroke patients.
Measured: At baseline
Proprioception
The patients' range of motion of the hip, knee, and ankle joints on the affected side is measured by fixing a digital goniometer to the joint. Data will be recorded in degrees. Patients will then be asked to half-jointly move their hip, knee, and ankle joints, without being able to see them. The difference between half of the normal joint movement and half of the joint movement performed with eyes closed will be noted. Assessments will be performed in both the prone and supine positions.
Measured: At baseline
Trunk Impairment Scale
The Trunk Impairment Scale is a 17-item scale with three subsections that assess static sitting balance, dynamic sitting balance, and coordination. The starting position for the scale is with the individual in a 90º flexed knee, soles of the feet touching the floor, hands on the thighs, and no back support. Measurements will be repeated three times, and the individual's best results will be recorded. The lowest possible score is 0, and the highest is 23. A high score indicates good trunk control.
Measured: At baseline
Brief-Bestest
It's a low-cost test that can be completed quickly with minimal equipment. It consists of six balance parameters. Measurements are made with a stopwatch on a flat surface. These include biomechanical constraints, stability limitations, transitions-preparatory postural alignment, reactive postural response, sensory orientation, and gait balance. Each question can be scored from a minimum of 0 to a maximum of 3, and the test can achieve a maximum of 24 points.
Measured: At baseline
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted4 Sep 2025
- Study start15 Sep 2025
- Primary completion15 Feb 2026
- Study completion25 Sep 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for StrokeStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- 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
- Observational
- Observational model
- Other
- Time perspective
- Cross-sectional
- Enrolment
- 30 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Gaziantep Islam Science and Technology University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Zekiye İpek, Gaziantep Islam Science and Technology University
- Investigators
- ipek kırmacı, Assoc.Prof., Principal investigator, GIBTU
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07155161
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- ipekkirmaci..
- Status last verified
- Oct 2026
- First submitted
- 27 Aug 2025
- Last updated
- 21 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 21 Oct 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Relationship Backwalking Ability and Lower Extremity Function, Proprioception, Trunk Control, And Balance Iduals With Stroke
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07155161
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- ipekkirmaci..
- Conditions
- Stroke
- Keywords
- stroke, back ward walking, proprioception, trunk control, balance
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 30 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Gaziantep Islam Science and Technology UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 15 Sep 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 15 Feb 2026 (actual)
- Study completion
- 25 Sep 2026 (actual)
- First posted
- 4 Sep 2025 (actual)
- 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.
Objective: To examine the relationship between backward walking ability and lower extremity function, proprioception, trunk control, and balance in individuals with stroke. Thirty individuals aged 30-85 who have had a stroke will be included in our study. Individuals with stroke who can walk 10 m without physical assistance, whose lower extremity functions are in the Brunnstrom motor recovery stages 2-6, who have been post-stroke for at least 3 days and up to 24 months, and who score 24 or higher on the Mini Mental Test will be included. Demographic information of individuals with stroke who meet the inclusion criteria will be recorded in a personal information form. Lower extremity function will be evaluated with the 3-meter back walking test (3MGYT), proprioception with the Fugl Meyer lower extremity assessment scale, with a digital goniometer, trunk control with the Trunk Impairment scale, and balance with the Brief BESTTest.
Detailed description
Stroke survivors often experience lower walking performance and muscle strength than healthy individuals. Despite advances in acute stroke treatment, patients continue to require rehabilitation due to spasticity, upper and lower extremity dysfunction, shoulder and back pain, dysphagia, and deficits in mobility and gait, vision, perception, and communication. Approximately 40% of patients experience functional impairment after stroke onset, and 15-30% experience severe motor, sensory, and cognitive impairments. While some patients lose ambulation completely after stroke, in others, impaired balance reactions and increased postural sway contribute to fear of falling and an increased risk of falling. Walking backwards is necessary to perform activities of daily living, such as leaning back in a chair and opening a door. This movement can be particularly challenging for the elderly and individuals with neurological deficits. Mechanical measurements of backward walking, particularly speed, stride length, and double support base, have been noted to significantly decrease in older adults. It suggests that the inability to take effective backward steps may predispose older adults to a decrease in functional walking ability and an increased risk of falls. Therefore, we believe that identifying the factors that influence backward walking ability in stroke survivors will contribute to rehabilitation programs that include walking training. This study is the first to examine the factors that influence backward walking ability in stroke patients in relation to proprioception, trunk control, lower extremity function, and balance.
Study design
- Observational model
- Other
- Time perspective
- Cross-sectional
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Stroke | – | Other: AssesmentStroke Patients |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 30 to 85 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
- Study population
- Stroke Patients
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- who can walk 10 meters without physical assistance,
- Lower extremity functions are in stages 2-6 of the Brunnstrom motor recovery scale,
- Have been at least 3 days and no more than 24 months post-stroke,
- Scored 24 or higher on the Mini Mental Test
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Individuals with neurological or orthopedic problems other than stroke that affect walking,
- A history of cardiovascular or rheumatological diseases that interfere with daily activities,
- A lower extremity lesion or fracture,
- Lower extremity spasticity of 4 on the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS),
- Aphasia or communication disorders
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Assesmentassessment | Other | Stroke |
Primary outcome
3 meter backward walking
Time frame: At baseline
In the 3MBT, a three-meter distance will be measured on a flat surface and the start and end will be marked. The patient will be asked to walk backward when prompted to start, and will be asked to stop when prompted to stop. Individuals will be allowed to look back if they wish. For safety reasons, the tester will be allowed to walk with the patients. Measurements will be repeated three times and averaged.
Fugl-Meyer Lower Extremity Scale
Time frame: At baseline
The Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) is a stroke-specific, performance-based measure. Measurements are taken with the patient seated on a flat bed, such as a stretcher. Each parameter is scored as 0: Failure, 1: Partially Successful, and 2: Completely Successful. Motor function and sensory sections of the scale are used. The motor function assessment section is scored as 100 points, with 66 for the upper extremities and 34 for the lower extremities, and the sensory assessment section, which includes light touch and position sense, is scored as 24 points. A higher score indicates a better condition. It is a widely used, reliable, and valid test for assessing paretic upper and lower extremity motor impairments in stroke patients.
Proprioception
Time frame: At baseline
The patients' range of motion of the hip, knee, and ankle joints on the affected side is measured by fixing a digital goniometer to the joint. Data will be recorded in degrees. Patients will then be asked to half-jointly move their hip, knee, and ankle joints, without being able to see them. The difference between half of the normal joint movement and half of the joint movement performed with eyes closed will be noted. Assessments will be performed in both the prone and supine positions.
Trunk Impairment Scale
Time frame: At baseline
The Trunk Impairment Scale is a 17-item scale with three subsections that assess static sitting balance, dynamic sitting balance, and coordination. The starting position for the scale is with the individual in a 90º flexed knee, soles of the feet touching the floor, hands on the thighs, and no back support. Measurements will be repeated three times, and the individual's best results will be recorded. The lowest possible score is 0, and the highest is 23. A high score indicates good trunk control.
Brief-Bestest
Time frame: At baseline
It's a low-cost test that can be completed quickly with minimal equipment. It consists of six balance parameters. Measurements are made with a stopwatch on a flat surface. These include biomechanical constraints, stability limitations, transitions-preparatory postural alignment, reactive postural response, sensory orientation, and gait balance. Each question can be scored from a minimum of 0 to a maximum of 3, and the test can achieve a maximum of 24 points.
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 21 Oct 2026.
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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.
ipek kırmacı, Assoc.Prof. principal investigator
GIBTU
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Stroke, run by Gaziantep Islam Science and Technology University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
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 21 Oct 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). 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?
3 meter backward walking (time frame: At baseline). The study lists 5 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
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 21 Oct 2026.