University of Exeter
Keywords: gait, stroke, quality of life, risk of falls
Open to: Stroke Survivors able to travel to Exeter Science Park, Clyst Honiton, Exeter, EX5 2FN (further conditions below)
Deadline: 10 January 2024
Apply / Key Contact: Please contact Dr Pavlos Evangelidis, p.evangelidis@exeter.ac.uk
Further Information: Patient Information Leaflet
Research participation requests are sent to the Stroke Association from external research institutions (e.g. universities and hospitals).
We conduct checks on these before promoting but are not involved in their running. This means we cannot comment on trials and have no affiliation with them.
Participants will fill out questionnaires, and complete walking and balancing tasks with and without the gaitQ device.
All participants will visit the laboratory for a single session lasting approximately 3 hours sessions at the University of Exeter’s Vsimulators facility, at Exeter Science Park, Clyst Honiton, Exeter, EX5 2FN.
What is the o pportunity about?
Approximately one-third of adults experience mobility issues and require rehabilitation. There is a shortage of skilled rehabilitation professionals, which is why we are developing a new device called gaitQ to help.
This device is designed to help people with mobility issues, starting with those with Parkinson’s disease, and then those with other conditions affecting movement, such as stroke and arthritis.
The purpose of this study is to develop and test gaitQ, a device that helps people with long-term conditions affecting movement walk better, improve their quality of life, and reduce their risk of falls.
To answer mentioned questions, we would like to invite 120 volunteers to test the bespoke device for one session visit and to determine reliability the first 60 participants will be invited to repeat testing on a second visit.
What will it Involve?
Participants will fill out questionnaires, and complete walking and balancing tasks with and without the gaitQ device.
All participants will visit the laboratory for a single session lasting approximately 3 hours sessions at the University of Exeter’s Vsimulators facility, at Exeter Science Park, Clyst Honiton, Exeter, EX5 2FN.
Who can take part?
Elibility criteria:
Inclusion criteria
- Diagnosis of stroke
- Able to self-report history of gait affected by condition.
- Able to walk unsupported or using an aid for at least 3 minutes and satisfactory completion of the Canadian PARQ and if over 69 used to carrying out this level of exercise.
- Adult (+18 years old)
- Normal or corrected-to-normal vision (Snellen Visual Acuity > 12/18) or safe to mobilise with support.
- Montreal Cognitive assessment score >21 or ability to follow 2 stage commands.
Exclusion criteria
- Any physical or mental condition affecting ability to safely participate in this level of activity and capacity to understand testing as demonstrated by ability to safely follow commands and pass the PARQ by the research team.
- Cognitive impairment affecting ability to safely participate and follow instructions.
- Any injury or disorder that may affect balance (other than stroke)
- Any skin conditions or broken skin in the calf and behind knee area
- Deep brain stimulation or pacemaker implants or other implants that may interfere with the measurement system.
What will you get from taking part?
Reimbursements will be offered for travel expenses, with cover for petrol costs and/or taxis, public transport. There are no parking charges at the Science Park so participants will be able to park at the site free of charge.
How Can I Take Part?
To learn more and to enroll in the study contact:
Dr Pavlos Evangelidis, p.evangelidis@exeter.ac.uk
Dr Mae Mansoubi, m.mansoubi@exeter.ac.uk
Professor Helen Dawes, h.dawes@exeter.ac.uk
Phone number: 07866138722
Information on taking part in research
Research participation helps research teams to test new ideas and approaches by sharing information or trying new approaches in clinical trials.
Find out more about taking part in research
Taking part in clinical trials can support research to:
- Stop strokes from happening.
- Treat strokes.
- Support people to rebuild their lives.
By taking part in research, you can help us to learn more about stroke and make a difference in the lives of future stroke survivors.
Find out about how our research has made a difference in the lives of people affected by stroke.
We have produced the Clinical Trials and Stroke booklet to explain more about clinical trials and answer questions you might have about taking part. The booklet was produced with the NIHR Clinical Research Network.
Information on Research Involvement
Research Involvement is a different way of contributing to research that involves collaborating with researchers to design decisions about how research is shaped and conducted.
You do not need any research knowledge to do this, your lived experience is what would otherwise be missing. Involvement is about contributing this to shape projects in ways that create most potential to benefit people affected.