Helping children with cerebral palsy walk better by correcting their crouch gait
Official title: Improving crouch gait in children with CP through error augmentation
Funded at Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago D/b/a Shirley Ryan Abilitylab · NIH-11143159 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project explores a new way to help children with cerebral palsy improve their walking by gently guiding them to correct their crouch gait.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago D/b/a Shirley Ryan Abilitylab NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $189,035 |
| NIH project number | 5R21HD116115-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11143159 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This opportunity is for children with cerebral palsy, particularly those between 0-11 years old, who experience crouch gait.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose gait issues are not related to crouch gait or who do not have cerebral palsy may not benefit from this specific approach.
What this research studies
Children with cerebral palsy often experience a walking pattern called crouch gait, where their knees bend too much, which can make walking difficult and may worsen over time. Current treatments like surgery or muscle strengthening have not always provided consistent or lasting improvements. This project aims to develop a new approach that uses 'error augmentation' to help children learn to adjust their walking patterns more effectively. By providing specific feedback, we hope to train their bodies to adopt a more upright and stable way of walking.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could offer children with cerebral palsy a more effective and lasting way to improve their walking ability and prevent further deterioration of their gait.
How similar studies have gone: Existing interventions for crouch gait have shown variable outcomes, indicating a need for novel approaches like the one proposed here.
Where this research is happening
-
Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago D/b/a Shirley Ryan Abilitylab
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wu, Ming — Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago D/b/a Shirley Ryan Abilitylab
- Study coordinator: Wu, Ming
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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.