Virtual Reality-Integrated Propulsion Feedback for Stroke Rehab
United States30 participantsStarted 2025-07-25
Plain-language summary
This study evaluates a novel Virtual Reality (VR)-integrated visual feedback system designed to enhance limb propulsion during robot-assisted gait rehabilitation in individuals post-stroke. In collaboration with CUREXO, a rehabilitation robotics company, the system is embedded within the Morning Walk® end-effector robot and provides real-time visual feedback to facilitate symmetrical use of the paretic and non-paretic limbs. The goal is to address gait asymmetry commonly observed in hemiparetic stroke survivors by promoting improved paretic leg propulsion, which is a key contributor to forward movement during walking.
A total of 30 participants (15 stroke, 15 healthy controls) aged 20 years or older will undergo single-session gait training using the VR-robot system. Participants will be assessed using spatiotemporal gait parameters, muscle activity, foot pressure, and vertical ground reaction forces. Additional safety measures-including a saddle-type weight support and real-time heart rate monitoring via smartwatch-are implemented to ensure a safe and controlled training environment. This study aims to test the feasibility and effectiveness of this VR-based system in improving gait symmetry and functional walking capacity in people recovering from stroke.
Who can participate
Age range
20 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Adults aged 20 years or older.
* For post-stroke participants:
* Diagnosis of stroke at least 1 month prior to participation.
* Able to walk at least 10 meters with or without assistive devices.
For healthy participants:
° Must walk independently without assistive devices.
Exclusion Criteria:
* Individuals with a life expectancy of less than one year.
* Comatose individuals.
* Individuals unable to follow three-step commands.
* Individuals with lower limb amputation.
* Individuals with poorly controlled diabetes (e.g., foot ulceration).
* Individuals with legal blindness.
* Individuals with progressive neurological conditions.
* Medically unstable individuals.
* Individuals with significant musculoskeletal impairments.
* Individuals with congestive heart failure or unstable angina.
* Individuals with peripheral vascular disease.
* Individuals with severe neuropsychiatric disorders (e.g., dementia, cognitive deficits, or severe depression).
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Change in Spatiotemporal Gait Symmetry using the Zeno Walkway GaitMat
Timeframe: Baseline (pre-training) and immediately post-training (same session)
Trial details
NCT IDNCT07087743
SponsorThe University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston