Spinal zaps help stroke survivors walk better?
NCT ID NCT03714282
First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This small study tested whether a noninvasive electrical stimulation device placed on the skin over the spinal cord could help people who have trouble walking after a stroke. Eight participants received either spinal stimulation plus gait training or gait training alone. The goal was to see if the stimulation improved step symmetry and walking speed. Results are preliminary and need confirmation in larger studies.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- transcutaneous electrical spinal cord stimulation
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could point toward a noninvasive way to improve walking and balance after a stroke.
- What could go wrong
- This was a very small, early study with only 8 participants. Results may not apply to everyone, and the approach may not prove effective in larger trials.
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
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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
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8 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Oct 2018
- Finished
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May 2020
- Lead sponsor
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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
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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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 Hide 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.
Healthy Control Group Inclusion Criteria: * Age 18 or older * Able and willing to give written consent and comply with study procedures Healthy Control Group Exclusion Criteria: * No history of cerebrovascular accidents or neurological degenerative pathologies (such as multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, etc.) * Pregnant or nursing * Skin allergies or irritation; open wounds * Utilizing a powered, implanted cardiac device for monitoring or supporting heart function (i.e. pacemaker, defibrillator, or LVAD) Stroke Group Inclusion Criteria: * Participants are 18 years of age or older * Participants are at least 4 weeks post stroke * Participants with hemiplegia secondary to a single stroke * Functional Ambulation Category of 2 or greater - Patient needs continuous or intermittent support of one person to help with balance and coordination. * Participants are able to provide informed consent * Participants are not currently receiving regular physical therapy services Stroke Group Exclusion Criteria: * Individuals less than18 years of age * Individuals less than 4 weeks post stroke * Individuals with ataxia * Individuals with multiple stroke history * Currently taking a Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) or Tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) * Botox injection in lower extremity within the last 4 months * Modified Ashworth score of 3 or greater in lower extremity * Pregnancy or nursing * Pacemaker or anti-spasticity implantable pumps * Active pressure sores * Unhealed bone fractures * Peripheral neuropathies * Painful musculoskeletal dysfunction due to active injuries or infections * Severe contractures in the lower extremities * Medical illness limiting the ability to walk * Active urinary tract infection * Clinically significant depression, psychiatric disorders, or ongoing drug abuse * Metal implants in their spine TMS Specific Criteria (see Safety Screening Questionnaire for Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) * Medicated with agents known to increase (e.g., amphetamines) or decrease motor system excitability (e.g., lorazepam) * Implanted cardiac pacemaker * Metal implants in the head or face * Suffers unexplained, recurring headaches * Had a seizure in the past unrelated to the stroke event, or has epilepsy * Skull abnormalities or fractures * Suffered a concussion within the last 6 month * Cardiorespiratory or metabolic diseases (e.g. cardiac arrhythmia, uncontrolled hypertension or diabetes, chronic emphysema) * Pregnant
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Genom att skicka in godkänner du våra Användarvillkor
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
Locations
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Shirley Ryan AbilityLab
Chicago, Illinois, 60611, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Robot could let stroke patients rehab their hands at home without a therapist
- Moving patterns may help stroke survivors read faster
- Vibrating wearables put stroke walking to the test
- Robot plus electrical stimulation aims to rebuild arm movement after stroke
- Can a checklist and heart monitor stop repeat strokes?
- Heart hole or stroke trigger? global registry tracks who gets closure and what happens next