rTMS plus aerobic exercise for post‑stroke depression and walking recovery
Combining rTMS & aerobic exercise to treat depression and improve post-stroke walking (RESTORATION)
This project combines repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) with aerobic exercise to try to reduce depression and improve walking for people after a stroke.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Medical University of South Carolina NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charleston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11180064 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you join, you would receive sessions of rTMS (a noninvasive brain stimulation) and supervised aerobic exercise, either alone or in combination, while researchers track mood and walking progress. The team will measure changes in depressive symptoms, motor recovery, and whether lowering depression helps you get more out of rehabilitation. The project builds on prior evidence that rTMS and aerobic exercise help depression in people without stroke and examines their effects specifically after stroke. The goal is to see whether the combined approach leads to better mood and walking than typical care.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people who have had a stroke, are experiencing depressive symptoms, and have walking or motor recovery goals.
Not a fit: People without depressive symptoms, or those with medical reasons they cannot do rTMS or aerobic exercise (for example certain implants, uncontrolled seizures, or severe cardiovascular limits), may not benefit or be eligible.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could lower post‑stroke depression and make rehabilitation more effective, helping people regain walking ability faster.
How similar studies have performed: rTMS and aerobic exercise have both reduced depression in people without stroke, but using them together for post‑stroke depression and to boost walking recovery is a newer, unproven approach.
Where this research is happening
Charleston, United States
- Medical University of South Carolina — Charleston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gregory, Chris — Medical University of South Carolina
- Study coordinator: Gregory, Chris
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 below.