Recruiting

HIIT

Sponsor:

Emory University

Code:

NCT07663292

Conditions

Subcortical Lesions

Stroke

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18 - 70+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

HIIT intervention

Study Details

Brief summary:

This study aims to develop imaging-based biomarkers to assess which chronic stroke participant with lower extremity disability may respond or resist high intensity interval training (HIIT).

Previous research suggests that physical exercise training is safe and could help improve the walking speed of non-ambulatory stroke survivors. However, inter-individual variability in response to exercise is extraordinarily high regardless of adherence, and predictors of response remain elusive.

Chronic stroke survivors with lower limb disability resulting in slow walking speeds will participate in 12 weeks of cycling exercise at Emory University under the guidance of a physical exercise instructor, 3 days a week, for 25-60 minutes. During some of the exercise sessions, the investigators will collect blood lactate with a finger prick. Brain scans with an MRI before and after the 12 weeks of exercise will be done; motor function tests that include walking, sitting down, standing up, and turning around will be collected. Participants' memory and thinking will be assessed, and participants will fill out questionnaires about their health before and after their stroke, and well as questions about their diet.

The participation will last between 14-16 weeks (up to 42 study visits).

Conditions

Subcortical Lesions

Stroke

Study ID

NCT07663292

Start date

Sep, 2026

Status verified date

Aug, 2026

Completion date

Mar, 2027

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Mar, 2027

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18 - 70+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

  • chronic left or right subcortical stroke as defined by 6 months or more after a cardiovascular accident
  • lower extremity motor impairment due to stroke that causes a walking speed of less than 0.6 m/s during a 10m walk,
  • age 18-80 years old, and
  • Screen pass of the Stress test or Physician sign-off from the participant's health care team that they are cleared for a 12 week exercise intervention

Exclusion Criteria:

  • MRI contraindications, including implanted cardiac pacemakers and severe claustrophobia
  • any neurodegenerative condition other than stroke that may lead to lower extremity impairment
  • visual or auditory impairment that may hinder study procedures, and
  • any medical condition that would preclude from participation in a physical exercise intervention program.

Study Design

Enrollment

55 participants

Anticipated

Intervention Model

Single group

Primary purpose

Supportive Care

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

experimental: HIIT intervention in chronic subcortical stroke participants

The HIIT consists of three weekly 25-60 minute cycling sessions for 12 weeks at Emory University, administered by a trained exercise physiologist, for a total of 36 HIIT sessions.

Interventions

HIIT intervention

Three weekly 25-60 minute cycling sessions for 12 weeks for a total of 36 HIIT sessions.

Each exercise session will start with a 5 minute warm up, followed by 20 minutes or more of moderate to intense cycling. Each session, the time will increase by one minute.

The trained exercise physiologist may ask the participant to cruise (cycle at a comfortable pace), sprint (cycle faster), or climb (increase gear) in order to generate intervals of moderate and high intensity exercise during the session.

During HIIT sessions 1, 4, 7, 10, and 28 the participant's blood lactate will be measured via finger prick 7 times each session (for a total of 35 finger pricks) to assess if their lactate threshold is surpassed during HIIT. One week before the intervention and one week after, the participant will be asked to take part in an assessment of lower extremity motor function including walking speed, and a 90-minute MRI session for a brain scan.

Primary outcome measure

  • Walking Speed Assessed by the 10-Meter Walk Test (10MWT) [ Time Frame: 12 weeks post-intervention ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Lisa Krishnamurthy, PhD

404-712-5332lkrish2@emory.edu

Susan Murphy

404-712-1928smurph7@emory.edu

Locations

Emory Rehabilitation Hospital

Recruiting

Atlanta, Georgia, United States, 30322

Contacts

Susan Murphy

404-712-1928smurph7@emory.edu

Emory University Hospital

Recruiting

Atlanta, Georgia, United States, 30322

Contacts

Susan Murphy

404-712-1928smurph7@emory.edu

More Information

Sponsor

Emory University

Last update posted

Aug 20, 2026

Last verified

Aug, 2026

Keywords

  • High intensity interval training

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-10-08. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by Emory University on 2026-08-20. Recruitment status is synced daily from ClinicalTrials.gov and may not reflect the sponsor's current status. Confirm during your call.