Mirror illusion may help paralyzed patients walk again
NCT ID NCT04809987
First seen Jul 07, 2026 · Last updated Jul 08, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tests whether watching a video of someone walking, projected below a mirror, can help people with incomplete spinal cord injury improve their walking, strength, and sensation. The idea is that mirror neurons in the brain may be activated by seeing the movement, promoting recovery. Participants will be randomly assigned to the virtual gait system, physical exercise, or a neutral video, and their progress will be measured over time.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Virtual gait system (video of treadmill walking projected below a mirror)
- What this could lead to
- If effective, this could offer a simple, non-invasive way to improve walking and muscle function after incomplete spinal cord injury.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small early study with 38 participants, so results may not apply broadly. The intervention is experimental and may not lead to meaningful improvement.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
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Locations
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Facultat de Fisioterapia, Universitat de València
Valencia, Valencia, 46010, Spain
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Faculty of Physiotherapy
Valencia, Spain, 46010, Spain
More trials for these conditions
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- Virtual illusion therapy may boost arm recovery after spinal cord injury
- Robot-Assisted walking may help spinal injury patients regain balance
- Brain zaps could help paralyzed patients walk again
- Could short bursts of low oxygen help spinal cord injury patients move better?
- Tailored exercise shows promise for spinal cord injury recovery
- Robotic exosuit boosts walking for spinal injury patients