Actively Recruiting
Cortical Priming to Optimize Gait Rehabilitation in Stroke: a Renewal
Led by University of Illinois at Chicago · Updated on 2026-05-11
100
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
365 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
Sponsors
U
University of Illinois at Chicago
Lead Sponsor
U
University of Maryland, College Park
Collaborating Sponsor
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
Achieving functional ambulation post stroke continues to be a challenge for stroke survivors, clinicians, and researchers. In the effort to enhance outcomes of motor training, cortical priming using brain stimulation has emerged as a promising adjuvant to conventional rehabilitation. This project focuses on the development of a long term gait rehabilitation protocol using brain stimulation to improve walking outcomes in people with stroke. The project will also aim to understand the neural mechanisms that are associated with response to the intervention.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Cortical Priming to Optimize Gait Rehabilitation in Stroke: a Renewal
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Age greater than 18 years
- First ever monohemispheric stroke more than 3 months since onset
- Residual hemiparetic gait deficits such as abnormal gait pattern
- Able to walk for 5 minutes at self-paced speed; handheld assistive device is acceptable
- Walking speed less than 1.2 meters per second
- Lower limb Fugl-Meyer Motor score between 15 and 30
- At least 5 degrees of ankle dorsiflexion needed to perform ankle-tracking task
You will not qualify if you...
- Severe osteoporosis
- Contracture limiting range of motion of lower limb
- Modified Ashworth Scale score more than 2 indicating increased muscle tone in ankle
- Uncontrolled anti-spasticity medications during study period
- Fugl-Meyer Sensory Assessment Scale for lower limb score less than 6
- Cardiorespiratory or metabolic diseases such as cardiac arrhythmia, uncontrolled hypertension or diabetes, chronic emphysema
- Unhealed pressure sores or persistent infections
- Significant cognitive or communication impairment (Mini-Mental State Examination score less than 21) affecting study understanding or ankle-tracking task
- Brainstem and cerebellum lesions
- Failure to pass graded exercise stress test
- Implanted cardiac pacemaker
- Metal implants in head or face
- Unexplained, recurring headaches
- History of seizures or epilepsy
- Medication increasing motor excitability or lowering seizure threshold
- Skull abnormalities or fractures
- Concussion within last 6 months
- Currently pregnant
- Skin hypersensitivity
- History of contact dermatitis
- History of allodynia or hyperalgesia
- Any skin or scalp condition aggravated by tDCS
AI-Screening
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Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
Physical Therapy
Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60612
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
S
Sangeetha Madhavan
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
TRIPLE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
TREATMENT
Number of Arms
2
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