Immersive VR Overground Gait Rehab for Stroke Survivors
Official title: NIH Stage 1/2 Study: Investigating the Feasibility, Usability, and Benefits of Fully Immersive VR Overground Gait Rehabilitation for Stroke Survivors
Funded at Indiana University Indianapolis · NIH-11287199 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study tests an immersive virtual reality program to help stroke survivors practice walking in real-world-like settings.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Indiana University Indianapolis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Indianapolis, United States) |
| Project start | June 4, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $304,837 |
| NIH project number | 1R03HD120509-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11287199 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with a history of stroke seeking to improve gait and mobility.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without gait impairments related to stroke or those unable to participate in VR-based training for medical or safety reasons.
What this research studies
This project will develop and test a fully immersive VR overground gait training program for people who have had a stroke. It uses real-world walking scenarios in a safe, controlled VR environment to help improve gait and independence in daily life. The approach is designed with input from stroke survivors and physical therapists to ensure it fits real needs and routines. The study will measure how usable the system is and whether it can boost real-world mobility and quality of life.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, stroke survivors could gain safer, more motivating ways to practice walking and regain independence.
How similar studies have gone: Prior VR gait trainings show promising results, but fully immersive overground VR is still being explored, making this a novel extension.
Where this research is happening
-
Indiana University Indianapolis
Indianapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jung, Hee Tae — Indiana University Indianapolis
- Study coordinator: Jung, Hee Tae
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
Better Electrical Stimulation for Walking After Stroke
This project is developing a smarter electrical stimulation device to help people walk more easily after a stroke, especially those who experience footdrop.
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.