Effect of Mental Arithmetic Priming on Gait and Balance in Stroke (MA-Stroke)

Lebanese University

Status: Not yet enrolling

Conditions: Stroke; Hemiparesis, Gait Disorders, Postural Balance, Disorders

Treatments: Behavioral: Mental Arithmetic; Behavioral: Passive Viewing

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07327814

ED-STROKE-MENTAL-CALCULUS

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study investigates the effect of cognitive priming through mental arithmetic on functional mobility in post-stroke patients. It hypothesizes that performing mental calculations (addition, subtraction, multiplication) prior to movement stimulates frontoparietal networks, thereby improving gait speed and dynamic balance compared to a passive control condition.

Full description

Stroke often results in impaired sensorimotor integration and executive dysfunction, leading to gait and balance deficits. Emerging evidence suggests a link between numerical cognition and motor control networks. This randomized controlled trial compares an experimental group (performing 30-second mental arithmetic tasks) against a control group (passive visual exposure). Functional mobility is assessed immediately following the cognitive stimulus using the Ten-Meter Walk Test (10mWT) and the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test to evaluate the immediate "priming" effects of cognitive load on motor performance.

Enrollment: 17 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 60 to 80 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Diagnosis of stroke.
• Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score ≥ 23.
• Ability to walk 10 meters independently (with or without assistive device).

Exclusion criteria

• Hemianopia.
• Wernicke's aphasia or Global aphasia.
• Orthopedic injuries or recent surgeries affecting the lower limbs.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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17 participants in 2 patient groups, including a placebo group

Intervention: Behavioral: Mental Arithmetic

Experimental group

Description:

Visual presentation of arithmetic equations (Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication) projected on a screen. Participants must calculate and verbally report the answer within a 10-second window per equation.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Mental Arithmetic

Passive Viewing

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

Passive viewing of a black screen with no cognitive demand.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Passive Viewing