Optimizing Gait Rehabilitation After Stroke

ClinicalTrials.gov ID

NCT07798388

Lead Sponsor

University Hospital, GhentOTHER

Overall Status

Not yet recruiting

Study Type

Interventional

Phase

Not Applicable

Enrollment

93Estimated

Last Update Posted

Sep 1, 2026Actual

Start Date

Aug 18, 2026Estimated

Primary Completion Date

Jun 30, 2028Estimated

Completion Date

Jun 30, 2028Estimated

Official Title

Optimizing Gait Rehabilitation After Stroke: Neuromechanical Understanding and the Role of VR Feedback to Improve Arm Swing Functionality

Brief Summary

Following a cerebrovascular accident (CVA, also known as a stroke), hemiparesis occurs on the side opposite to the brain injury. This can lead to problems with walking and balance, as well as with arm movements whilst walking. The arm swing serves several important functions whilst walking, such as improving your balance and energy efficiency, and a good arm swing helps to reduce the likelihood of falling if you lose your balance. That is why regaining the ability to walk independently with the best possible arm swing is a key goal during rehabilitation for people who have had a stroke. This ensures that the risk of falling is minimised and that people can resume their daily lives as effectively as possible.

The aim of this study is to gain a better understanding of the abnormalities in arm swing whilst walking in people who have had a stroke, and how we can influence them. To identify these abnormalities, we use surface electromyography, a painless technique that allows us to measure muscle activity whilst walking. To do this, we attach sensors to the muscles whose activity we wish to record.

During this study, we are measuring both people who have had a stroke and healthy adults, in order to detect the effects of a stroke on this muscle activity. The data from the healthy adults will be used to investigate whether we observe different muscle activity in people who have had a stroke.

• Stroke Gait Rehabilitation

• VR-feedback application

Ages Eligible for Study

Adult (18-64)Older Adult (65+)

Sexes Eligible for Study

All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria Stroke:

• First-ever ischemic or haemorrhagic stroke
• Able to walk independently (FAC ≥ 3)
• Able to walk at least ten minutes
• No full recovery of the paretic upper limb (FMA-UL < 66)
• Able to follow simple instructions during the assessment

Exclusion Criteria Stroke:

• Lesions located in the cerebellum
• Pre-existing neurological disorders that affect motor function (e.g., Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, dementia, etc.)
• Pre-existing orthopaedic disorders of the upper and/or lower limbs (e.g., shoulder prosthesis, knee prosthesis, etc.)
• Inability to provide written informed consent
• Inability to understand instructions (AbilityQ: verbal < 3/4 and VAS < 3/3)

Exclusion Criteria Healthy:

• Pre-existing neurological disorders that affect motor function (e.g., Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, dementia, etc.)
• Pre-existing orthopaedic disorders of the upper and/or lower limbs (e.g., shoulder prosthesis, knee prosthesis, etc.)
• Injuries of the upper and/or lower limbs that occurred six months or less prior to the time of testing
• Current pain or ROM limitations at the time of testing
• Inability to provide written informed consent

Primary Purpose

Treatment

Allocation

N/A

Interventional Model

Single Group Assignment

Masking

None (Open Label)

Lead Sponsor

University Hospital, GhentOTHER

Collaborators

University GhentOTHER

Universiteit AntwerpenOTHER

University Hospital, AntwerpOTHER

Hasselt UniversityOTHER

gitte.vancleemput@ugent.be093321243

gitte.vancleemput@ugent.be093321243

• The Influence of Cortical Lateralization on Selective Motor Control of the Arm Swing During Independent Walking After Stroke.

  NCT06442579

  RecruitingInterventionalNot ApplicableUpdated Nov 18, 2025
• Virtual Reality-Integrated Propulsion Feedback for Stroke Rehab

  NCT07087743

  RecruitingInterventionalNot ApplicableUpdated Apr 1, 2026
• Virtual Reality Augmented Gait Adaptation in Stroke Survivors

  NCT03787693

  CompletedInterventionalNot ApplicableUpdated Apr 16, 2026
• EMG-controlled Virtual Reality to Improve Upper Extremity Function in Chronic Stroke Patients

  NCT04154371

  Unknown statusInterventionalNot ApplicableUpdated Mar 9, 2022
• Research on the Effectiveness of Neurorehabilitation After Stroke

  NCT06753006

  RecruitingInterventionalNot ApplicableUpdated Jan 1, 2025
• Virtual Reality for Post-Stroke Gait Rehabilitation

  NCT07201974

  RecruitingInterventionalNot ApplicableUpdated Mar 20, 2026