Assisted walking program for stroke survivors who cannot walk
Developing a walking exercise program for non-ambulatory stroke survivors
Guided upright walking is offered to people who cannot walk after a stroke to help improve heart and lung health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Kansas Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Kansas City, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11174373 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you join, you'll be randomly assigned to a supervised upright walking program or to commonly used seated exercises. Therapists will provide assisted gait training (for example, body-weight support or hands-on assistance) so non-ambulatory chronic stroke survivors can practice standing and stepping while heart and breathing are monitored. The study will track cardiovascular and pulmonary measures, blood pressure, body weight, and related health outcomes over the training period. The research compares whether upright walking produces greater health gains than seated exercise for people who remain non-ambulatory after stroke.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with chronic stroke who remain non-ambulatory despite prior rehabilitation and who can safely tolerate supervised upright assisted walking are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People who already walk independently, have unstable medical conditions, severe cognitive impairment, or cannot tolerate standing may not benefit or be eligible for this program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could improve cardiovascular and lung health and lower cardiovascular risk in stroke survivors who cannot walk.
How similar studies have performed: Walking and aerobic programs have improved heart and lung fitness in stroke survivors who can walk, but trials that include non-ambulatory survivors with assisted gait training are rare.
Where this research is happening
Kansas City, United States
- University of Kansas Medical Center — Kansas City, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Liu, Wen — University of Kansas Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Liu, Wen
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.