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.

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.

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.

Individual participant data (IPD) that underlie the results reported in this article (after de-identification) will be shared. This includes the data used to generate the tables and figures.

Data will be available beginning 6 months and ending 5 years following article publication.

Data will be shared with researchers who provide a methodologically sound proposal to the corresponding author. Proposals should be directed to ahmadrifaisarraj@ul.edu.lb. To gain access, data requestors will need to sign a data access agreement.

Single Blind (Participant)