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Can a gentle robotic pull retrain balance after stroke?

NCT ID NCT07802470

Disease control Sponsor: Northwestern University Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

What the study statuses mean

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Recruitment status, easiest to join first

Recruiting now
This trial is taking on new participants right now.
Not yet recruiting This study
Registered, but not yet taking participants.
By invitation only
Not open to general applications. Only people the study team invites can take part.
Paused
Paused for now. It may or may not start again.
Ongoing
Running, but no longer taking on new participants.
Completed
The trial has finished. Results may not be published yet.
Stopped early
Stopped early, before it reached the end. That can be for many reasons, including safety.
Cancelled
Cancelled before anyone took part.

Expanded access (not trials)

Expanded access
Not a trial. This treatment can be requested outside a study, case by case, for people who qualify.
Expanded access (paused)
Not a trial. The treatment can normally be requested outside a study, but is unavailable right now.
Expanded access (ended)
Not a trial. The treatment could once be requested outside a study, but no longer can.
Approved
The treatment has been approved, so it is available normally rather than through this programme.

When the status isn't known

Details not published
The full record has not been published yet, so there is little to show here.
Status unknown
This status has not been confirmed recently, so it may be out of date.

First seen Sep 03, 2026 · Last updated Sep 04, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This trial tests whether treadmill training with a robotic cable that gently pulls walkers side-to-side can improve balance and daily walking in adults who had a stroke. Participants complete 20 high-intensity treadmill sessions, either with the robotic pulling forces or without them. Researchers measure walking balance, speed, and daily step counts before, during, and after training, plus at a 3-month follow-up.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance
High-intensity treadmill gait training with a robotic cable device that gently pulls the participant side-to-side to challenge balance
What this could lead to
If it works, this training could become a standard rehab approach to help stroke survivors walk more steadily and take more steps in daily life.
What could go wrong
The trial is small (50 people) and early, so results may not apply to everyone. The robotic pulling forces might feel uncomfortable or not improve balance beyond standard training.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Study facts

What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.

Phase

Not a phased trial

Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.

Participants

About 50 people

The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.

Expected to start

Sep 2026

An estimate. Start dates often move.

Expected to finish

Aug 2031

An estimate. End dates often move.

Lead sponsor

Other sponsor

The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.

Who can take part

This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.

Ages

18 to 80 years

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

Not accepted

This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.

Show the full entry requirements

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: 1. 18 to 80 years of age; 2. diagnosis of hemiparetic stroke; 3. more than 6 months post-stroke; 4. ability to ambulate over ground for 10 meters with no physical assistance, use of unilateral assistive devices, such as a single cane, and use of braces that do not cross the knee joint, such as an ankle-foot orthosis, are permitted; 5. passive range of motion of the legs within functional limits and not restricting the ability to engage in locomotor training and 6. medically stable with medical clearance from physician to participate. Exclusion Criteria: 1. cognitive impairment (score ≤22/30 on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment scale); 2. aphasia (score ≥71/100 on the Mississippi Aphasia Screening Test); 3. excessive spasticity in lower limbs (score \>3 on the Modified Ashworth Scale); 4. unable to tolerate 10-min. of standing; 5. enrollment in concurrent physical therapy; 6. use of orthotics crossing the knee joint; 7. known pregnancy; and 8. severe cardiovascular, musculoskeletal or other neurological conditions affecting gait and balance.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

stroke disorder

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Stroke

How to take part

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  1. The places running it

    1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.

  2. The official record

    ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.

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  3. A doctor treating you

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Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Northwestern University

    Chicago, Illinois, 60611, United States

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