Recruiting

VR-integrated Gait Rehabilitation

Sponsor:

The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston

Code:

NCT07087743

Conditions

Stroke

Robot Assisted Gait Training

Virtual Reality

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 20+

Healthy Volunteers: Accepted

Interventions

VR-Based Gait Training with End-Effector Robot

Study Details

Brief 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.

Conditions

Stroke

Robot Assisted Gait Training

Virtual Reality

Study ID

NCT07087743

Start date

Jul 25, 2025

Status verified date

Mar, 2026

Completion date

Dec 30, 2026

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Dec 27, 2026

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 20+

Healthy Volunteers: Accepted

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).

Study Design

Enrollment

30 participants

Anticipated

Allocation

Non randomized

Intervention Model

Parallel Assignment

Primary purpose

Basic Science

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

experimental: Post-Stroke Group

Individuals who have had a stroke will complete a single session of VR-integrated gait training using the Morning Walk® end-effector robot. Gait performance will be evaluated before and after training.

experimental: Healthy Group

Healthy participants will undergo the same single-session VR-integrated gait training using the Morning Walk® end-effector robot. Pre- and post-training assessments will be conducted.

Interventions

VR-Based Gait Training with End-Effector Robot

A single-session gait training protocol using the Morning Walk® end-effector robot with real-time virtual reality visual feedback to encourage paretic limb propulsion and symmetrical gait. This intervention is intended to study participants' behavioral and biomechanical responses to the VR feedback, not to evaluate the robot as a device.

Primary outcome measure

  • Change in Spatiotemporal Gait Symmetry using the Zeno Walkway GaitMat [ Time Frame: Baseline (pre-training) and immediately post-training (same session) ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Mansoo Ko, PhD

409-747-1617mako@utmb.edu

Locations

University of Texas Medical Branch

Recruiting

Galveston, Texas, United States, 77555

Contacts

Mansoo Ko

409-747-1617

More Information

Sponsor

The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston

Last update posted

Apr 1, 2026

Last verified

Mar, 2026

Keywords

  • Propulsion Feedback
  • Gait Rehabilitation
  • Paretic Leg
  • Virtual Reality
  • End-Effector Robot

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-09. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston on 2026-04-01.