Motor ImageryNCT07347756
The Effect of Gait Imagery on the Muscular Activity of Lower Limbs and Lower Body Kinematics in Stroke Survivors
A study testing gait imagery in people with Motor Imagery and Stroke, run by Hana Haltmar at 2 sites in Czechia.
Trial summary
The aim of the study is to evaluate the effect of normal gait imagery and gait on a line imagery on lower limb muscle activity and lower body kinematics in stroke survivors. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Motor Imagery, Stroke
- What is being tested?
- gait imagery
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 40 participants
- Where
- 2 sitesCzechia
- Study dates
- 1 Mar 2021to 1 Mar 2022
- 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 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Subacute stage (1 week - 2 months after the onset of the attack) after primary attack of stroke
- Ischemic origin of stroke
- Good cognitive level to understand the study
- Minimum age of 18 years
- Clinically manifested hemiparetic gait with ability to perform independent walking for at least five minutes
- Mild motor deficit with ability to maintain standing without any support
- Ability to walk independently without any manual assistance of another person (≥ 3/5 points according to the Functional Ambulation Categories)
- Good level (≥ 4/7 points) of kinesthetic and visual MI according to the Czech version of the MIQ-RS questionnaire
Who cannot join
- Present impairments in communication and cognition
- An additional neurological, internal, psychological or psychiatric disorder or severe musculoskeletal disorder that may affect the ambulation
- Previous experience with MI
- Pain during the measurement
Trial locations and contacts
2 sites in 1 country.
Czechia2 sites
Palacky University
Olomouc, 77111
University Hospital Olomouc
Olomouc, 77900
About this study
Official title: The Effect of Gait Imagery on the Muscular Activity of Lower Limbs and Lower Body Kinematics in Subacute Stroke Survivors
The aim of the study is to evaluate the effect of normal gait imagery and gait on a line imagery on lower limb muscle activity and lower body kinematics in stroke survivors.
Read the detailed description
Gait imagery is a cognitive process involving the mental simulation of a gait that is not actually performed. According to current studies, gait imagery has very similar neural activity to that observed in real gait. This activity can be observed not only at the central level, but also at the end effector - the muscle - using surface electromyography. Across studies, muscle activity and kinematics are evaluated in particular when imagining analytical movements of the upper or lower limbs, but complex and posturally more demanding movements (in our case, gait and its modification - gait on a line) are studied to a lesser extent. Independent walking and the ability to adapt it to the terrain is important in rehabilitation therapy for patients with limited mobility. These individuals include, among others, a stroke survivors. The aim of the study is therefore to evaluate the effect of normal gait imagery and gait on a line imagery on lower limb muscle activity and lower body kinematics in these individuals.
- Conditions
- Motor Imagery, Stroke
- Being tested
- gait imagery
- Keywords
- motor imagery, gait, surface electromyography, angular velocity, acceleration, stroke
- Medical subject headings
- Stroke
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
gait imageryBehavioural
The initial position, which is identical for all measured tasks, consisted of an upright bipedal stance in front of an unobtrusive white screen with feet at pelvic width, upper limbs held loosely along the body, eyes open and facing forward. During the rest task, non-motor imagery task, participants are instructed to sing the song "Happy Birthday" in their minds.
NGI before the real execution of normal gait and GLI before the real execution of gait on the line are tasks associated with the imagery of normal gait or tandem gait on the line. Participants first observed a 5 m section of the corridor for NGI, or a line located in the middle of the same corridor for GLI.
The last tasks, NGI after the real execution of normal gait and GLI after the real execution of gait on the line, differed from above mentioned tasks in the immediate real experience of normal gait or gait on the line.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Intervention | Experimental | All individuals will be instructed to realize normal gait imagery (NGI) and gait on the line imagery (GLI) modalities in a single experimental session. The order of imagining these two gait modalities was randomized and both modalities consisted of these tasks: rest (non-imagery task), NGI/GLI before and after the real execution of normal gait/tandem gait on the line. The order of the tasks was not randomized.
Individuals are also asked about the ease/difficulty of imagining both NGI/GLI before and after the real execution of gait tasks using a five-point scale.
Each task is measured once for 30 s with respect to sustained attention and possible onset of fatigue. Receives: Behavioral: gait imagery |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Objective measurement of muscle activity
Muscle activity [V] will be measured by surface electromyography during all tasks (rest and gait imagery before/after real gait execution) across both gait imagery modalities (normal gait imagery and gait on the line imagery).
Measured: Day 1
Objective measurement of lower body kinematics 1
Lower body kinematics will be measured by gyroscope [deg/s] during all tasks (rest and gait imagery before/after real gait execution) across both gait imagery modalities (normal gait imagery and gait on the line imagery).
Measured: Day 1
Objective measurement of lower body kinematics 2
Lower body kinematics will also be measured by accelerometer [g] during all tasks (rest and gait imagery before/after real gait execution) across both gait imagery modalities (normal gait imagery and gait on the line imagery).
Measured: Day 1
Secondary outcomes (1)
Questionnaire - Evaluation of gait imagery
Individuals will be asked about ease/difficulty of imagining both normaI gait imagery/gait on the line imagery before and after the real execution of gait tasks using a five-point scale (maximum value - 5 points [easy] to minimum value - 1 point [difficult]).
Measured: Day 1
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted16 Jan 2026
- Study start1 Mar 2021
- Primary completion1 Jan 2022
- Study completion1 Mar 2022
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Motor ImageryStudies 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
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 40 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Hana Haltmar
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor-investigator, Hana Haltmar, Palacky University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07347756
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- IGA_FTK_2021_014
- Other IDs
- 13/2021
- Status last verified
- Dec 2025
- First submitted
- 7 Dec 2025
- Last updated
- 21 Jan 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Publications
Haltmar H., Janura M., Haltmar M., & Elfmark M. (2024).The effect of gait imagery and its more demanding variant on muscle activity in stroke survivors. Rehabilitace a fyzikální lékařství, 31(3), 116-125. doi: 10.48095/ccrhfl2024116.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 21 Jan 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Effect of Gait Imagery on the Muscular Activity of Lower Limbs and Lower Body Kinematics in Subacute Stroke Survivors
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07347756
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- IGA_FTK_2021_014
- Conditions
- Motor Imagery, Stroke
- Keywords
- motor imagery, gait, surface electromyography, angular velocity, acceleration, stroke
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 40 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Hana HaltmarUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Mar 2021 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 Jan 2022 (actual)
- Study completion
- 1 Mar 2022 (actual)
- First posted
- 16 Jan 2026 (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.
The aim of the study is to evaluate the effect of normal gait imagery and gait on a line imagery on lower limb muscle activity and lower body kinematics in stroke survivors.
Detailed description
Gait imagery is a cognitive process involving the mental simulation of a gait that is not actually performed. According to current studies, gait imagery has very similar neural activity to that observed in real gait. This activity can be observed not only at the central level, but also at the end effector - the muscle - using surface electromyography. Across studies, muscle activity and kinematics are evaluated in particular when imagining analytical movements of the upper or lower limbs, but complex and posturally more demanding movements (in our case, gait and its modification - gait on a line) are studied to a lesser extent. Independent walking and the ability to adapt it to the terrain is important in rehabilitation therapy for patients with limited mobility. These individuals include, among others, a stroke survivors. The aim of the study is therefore to evaluate the effect of normal gait imagery and gait on a line imagery on lower limb muscle activity and lower body kinematics in these individuals.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Intervention | Experimental | Behavioral: gait imageryAll individuals will be instructed to realize normal gait imagery (NGI) and gait on the line imagery (GLI) modalities in a single experimental session. The order of imagining these two gait modalities was randomized and both modalities consisted of these tasks: rest (non-imagery task), NGI/GLI before and after the real execution of normal gait/tandem gait on the line. The order of the tasks was not randomized. Individuals are also asked about the ease/difficulty of imagining both NGI/GLI before and after the real execution of gait tasks using a five-point scale. Each task is measured once for 30 s with respect to sustained attention and possible onset of fatigue. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (8 listed)
- Subacute stage (1 week - 2 months after the onset of the attack) after primary attack of stroke
- Ischemic origin of stroke
- Good cognitive level to understand the study
- Minimum age of 18 years
- Clinically manifested hemiparetic gait with ability to perform independent walking for at least five minutes
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Present impairments in communication and cognition
- An additional neurological, internal, psychological or psychiatric disorder or severe musculoskeletal disorder that may affect the ambulation
- Previous experience with MI
- Pain during the measurement
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 |
|---|---|---|
| gait imageryThe initial position, which is identical for all measured tasks, consisted of an upright bipedal stance in front of an unobtrusive white screen with feet at pelvic width, upper limbs held loosely along the body, eyes open and facing forward. During the rest task, non-motor imagery task, participants are instructed to sing the song "Happy Birthday" in their minds. NGI before the real execution of normal gait and GLI before the real execution of gait on the line are tasks associated with the imagery of normal gait or tandem gait on the line. Participants first observed a 5 m section of the corridor for NGI, or a line located in the middle of the same corridor for GLI. The last tasks, NGI after the real execution of normal gait and GLI after the real execution of gait on the line, differed from above mentioned tasks in the immediate real experience of normal gait or gait on the line. | Behavioural | Intervention |
Primary outcome
Objective measurement of muscle activity
Time frame: Day 1
Muscle activity [V] will be measured by surface electromyography during all tasks (rest and gait imagery before/after real gait execution) across both gait imagery modalities (normal gait imagery and gait on the line imagery).
Objective measurement of lower body kinematics 1
Time frame: Day 1
Lower body kinematics will be measured by gyroscope [deg/s] during all tasks (rest and gait imagery before/after real gait execution) across both gait imagery modalities (normal gait imagery and gait on the line imagery).
Objective measurement of lower body kinematics 2
Time frame: Day 1
Lower body kinematics will also be measured by accelerometer [g] during all tasks (rest and gait imagery before/after real gait execution) across both gait imagery modalities (normal gait imagery and gait on the line imagery).
1 secondary outcome
Questionnaire - Evaluation of gait imagery
Time frame: Day 1
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 Jan 2026.
- Results publicationHaltmar H., Janura M., Haltmar M., & Elfmark M. (2024).The effect of gait imagery and its more demanding variant on muscle activity in stroke survivors. Rehabilitace a fyzikální lékařství, 31(3), 116-125. doi: 10.48095/ccrhfl2024116.
- This article describe how muscle activity of selected paretic and non-paretic lower limb muscles changes in subacute stroke survivors when imagining normal gait and its more challenging variant, gait on the line.Link provided by the sponsor.
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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.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
2 sites in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing gait imagery in people with Motor Imagery and Stroke, run by Hana Haltmar at 2 sites in Czechia.
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 8 inclusion and 4 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 Jan 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 Czechia. 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?
Objective measurement of muscle activity (time frame: Day 1). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. 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 NCT07347756, which also lists 1 linked publication.
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 Jan 2026.