Movement-Enhanced Walking Training to Improve Balance After Stroke
Official title: Movement Amplification Gait Training to Enhance Walking Balance Post-Stroke
Funded at Edward Hines Jr VA Hospital · NIH-11597313 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Edward Hines Jr VA Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Hines, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2024 |
| Project end | December 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2027 |
| NIH project number | 5I21RX004882-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11597313 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with chronic stroke who can walk with assistance and are able to participate in treadmill-based training.
✕Less likely to help
People who cannot tolerate treadmill walking or participate in battery of assessments may not benefit.
What this research studies
The program uses a cable-driven MAE during treadmill walking to apply real-time, lateral forces that amplify a person’s movement, aiming to boost motor learning and balance. It focuses on anticipatory balance by teaching predictive control, rather than reacting to random surprises. The study compares MAE-based training with traditional balance training to see how gait adapts during and after practice, and to assess whether high-intensity gait training is feasible in this setup.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could lead to better walking balance and independence for people living with chronic stroke.
How similar studies have gone: Similar MAE-based approaches are being explored to enhance motor learning; this line of work has shown promise but is still being evaluated.
Where this research is happening
-
Edward Hines Jr VA Hospital
Hines, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gordon, Keith Edward — Edward Hines Jr VA Hospital
- Study coordinator: Gordon, Keith Edward
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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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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Movement-amplifying treadmill training to improve walking balance after stroke
This project uses a treadmill system that gently amplifies side-to-side movements to help people with chronic stroke improve their walking balance.
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Improving walking balance for stroke survivors using advanced training techniques
This study is testing a new way to help stroke survivors improve their walking balance and speed using a special robot that gives gentle pushes while they walk on a treadmill, making it easier for them to regain their balance and walk better.
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Improving How the Great Toe Works and Its Link to Walking and Balance in Older Adults
Researchers are testing new ways to measure how the big toe functions and how that relates to walking balance in adults, with a focus on older individuals.
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Improving balance and walking in older adults with gentle vestibular electrical stimulation
This uses very small, nearly unnoticeable electrical pulses to the balance system to help balance and walking in older adults with age-related vestibular loss.
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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.
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.