Actively Recruiting
Responses to Backward Walking Training Post-Stroke
Led by VA Office of Research and Development · Updated on 2026-04-08
48
Participants Needed
2
Research Sites
268 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
Approximately 15,000 Veterans are hospitalized for stroke each year with new cases costing an estimated $111 million for acute inpatient, $75 million for post-acute inpatient, and $88 million for follow-up care over 6 months post-stroke. The investigators have previously established the effectiveness of a backward walking training program to improve gait and balance in post-stroke Veterans. To best serve Veterans in this era of personalized medicine, there is a current need to determine the appropriate training dose as well as which post-stroke Veterans would most benefit. This study addresses both needs as it will 1) test responses to two different doses (18 vs. 27 sessions) of backward walking training and 2) assess brain activity, measured by magnetic resonance imaging, before and after training intervention to determine its ability to predict rehabilitation response as well as brain mechanisms of behavioral change.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Responses to Backward Walking Training Post-Stroke
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Berg Balance Scale less than 45
- Self-selected 10 meter gait speed less than 0.8 meters per second
- Diagnosis of unilateral stroke
- Stroke occurred more than 2 months and less than 4 months ago
- Able to walk at least 10 feet with no more than one person assisting
- Medically stable
You will not qualify if you...
- Presence of neurological conditions other than stroke
- Recent serious cardiac conditions or unstable heart problems including recent hospitalization, heart failure, severe arrhythmias, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, severe aortic stenosis, or angina/dyspnea at rest or during daily activities
- New York Heart Association Class 3 or 4 heart disease
- Severe arthritis or orthopedic problems limiting lower limb motion
- Severe hypertension with resting blood pressure over 200/110 mmHg
- Pain when walking
- Currently receiving physical therapy for mobility or walking
- Living in a skilled nursing facility
- Any contraindications to MRI including metal implants or claustrophobia
AI-Screening
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Trial Site Locations
Total: 2 locations
1
North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System, Gainesville, FL
Gainesville, Florida, United States, 32608-1135
Actively Recruiting
2
Brooks Rehabilitation
Jacksonville, Florida, United States, 32216
Not Yet Recruiting
Research Team
D
Dorian K Rose, PhD MS BS
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
SINGLE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
TREATMENT
Number of Arms
2
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