Better Electrical Stimulation for Walking After Stroke
Official title: Innovative closed-loop functional electrical stimulation control system for augmenting post-stroke gait
Funded at Emory University · NIH-11159730 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project is developing a smarter electrical stimulation device to help people walk more easily after a stroke, especially those who experience footdrop.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emory University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $185,373 |
| NIH project number | 5R21HD116484-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11159730 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for future applications of this technology would be individuals who have experienced a stroke and have difficulty lifting their foot while walking, a condition known as footdrop.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without post-stroke footdrop or other neurological conditions affecting muscle function in a similar way may not directly benefit from this specific technology.
What this research studies
Functional electrical stimulation (FES) is a common therapy that uses gentle electrical pulses to help muscles work better, especially for people recovering from conditions like stroke. While current FES devices can help with walking, they often cause muscle fatigue and don't automatically adjust the stimulation as you move. This project aims to create a new FES system that can sense muscle fatigue and automatically change the stimulation intensity, making the therapy more effective and comfortable. Our goal is to overcome these limitations to provide a more personalized and beneficial walking aid.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this improved FES system could make walking easier and reduce falls for stroke survivors by preventing muscle fatigue and providing more responsive support.
How similar studies have gone: Commercial FES systems for footdrop are already available and have shown promise, but this project introduces novel closed-loop control to address their current limitations.
Where this research is happening
-
Emory University
Atlanta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kesar, Trisha — Emory University
- Study coordinator: Kesar, Trisha
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Movement-Enhanced Walking Training to Improve Balance After Stroke
A specialized treadmill training using a cable-driven device, called Movement Amplification Environment (MAE), helps people with chronic stroke improve walking balance by enhancing their own movement awareness.
-
Teleassessment of gait and balance after stroke to expand remote rehabilitation
A multi-site study tests simple remote gait and balance tests for stroke survivors to enable safer, easier rehabilitation from home.
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MINT conditioning to improve post-stroke walking with a wearable device
A wearable, wireless EMG-based system called MINT helps people who’ve had a stroke re-train leg muscles to walk more easily, especially at home.
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How stroke and Botox affect ankle stiffness during walking
This project looks at how stroke and Botox (Botulinum Neurotoxin) change ankle stiffness and resistance during walking in people with gait problems.
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Characterization of how stroke affects both ankles during standing and walking
This grant studies how stroke changes ankle movement in both legs during standing and walking to help improve posture and gait for stroke survivors.
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Immersive VR Overground Gait Rehab for Stroke Survivors
A study tests an immersive virtual reality program to help stroke survivors practice walking in real-world-like settings.
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.