How stroke and Botox affect ankle stiffness during walking

Functional implications of stroke and Botulinum Neurotoxin on ankle stiffness and viscosity during gait

NIH-funded research University of Michigan at Ann Arbor · NIH-11323537

This project looks at how stroke and Botox (Botulinum Neurotoxin) change ankle stiffness and resistance during walking in people with gait problems.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Ann Arbor, United States)
Project IDNIH-11323537 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

If you join, researchers will measure how your ankle behaves during walking using sensors and movement tests to estimate joint stiffness and viscosity. They will compare the affected and less-affected legs and study people who have had Botox injections to see how those treatments change ankle mechanics. Measurements may include walking on a treadmill, brief safe mechanical perturbations, and recordings of muscle activity and motion. The team will use these data to link internal joint mechanics to the walking problems you experience and to guide better treatment choices in the future.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Adults who have had a stroke and now have walking problems or abnormal ankle stiffness, including those who have received or are considering Botox injections, would be ideal candidates.

Not a fit: People without stroke-related gait issues, children, or those unable to travel to the study site may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: Could help doctors choose and time treatments like Botox or therapy so walking works better after stroke.

How similar studies have performed: Prior studies have shown mixed and sometimes surprising results about ankle stiffness after stroke and the effects of Botox, so this work builds on limited existing findings.

Where this research is happening

Ann Arbor, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-09 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.