Training to improve balance and reduce falls in people after a stroke
Official title: Proactive and reactive perturbation training to reduce falls and improve gait stability in people with chronic stroke
Funded at Medical University of South Carolina · NIH-11061902 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is all about helping people who have had a stroke improve their balance and lower their chances of falling by trying out new training methods that focus on specific balance issues.
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 start | April 1, 2021 |
| Project end | March 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $321,843 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD103923-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11061902 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with chronic stroke who experience gait instability and are at risk of falling.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not experienced a stroke or those with acute stroke conditions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on helping individuals who have experienced a chronic stroke improve their balance and reduce the risk of falls. It aims to develop targeted training methods that address specific issues causing gait instability, which is a common problem after a stroke. By using mechanical perturbations, the study seeks to enhance the body's ability to respond to balance challenges, ultimately aiming to improve mobility and quality of life for participants. The approach is designed to be more effective than traditional rehabilitation methods that have not adequately addressed fall risks.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly enhance the mobility and independence of stroke survivors, reducing their risk of falls.
How similar studies have gone: While perturbation training has shown success in other clinical populations, its effectiveness in stroke survivors is still being explored, making this research a novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Medical University of South Carolina
Charleston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dean, Jesse C. — Medical University of South Carolina
- Study coordinator: Dean, Jesse C.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Improving walking activity and confidence in individuals with chronic stroke
This study is for people who have had a stroke and want to feel more confident and active while walking and doing daily tasks without the fear of falling; it will help find out what specific balance skills they need to work on so they can get the right support to improve their walking and confidence in everyday life.
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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.
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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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Preventing Falls in Older Adults Using Floor Vibrations to Detect Falls and Gait Changes
A new approach aims to detect falls and gait changes in people aged 65 and older by analyzing floor vibrations, with the goal of preventing injuries and reducing fall-related costs.
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Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation to Improve Movement After Stroke
A new non-invasive technique called kilohertz Transcranial Magnetic Perturbation (kTMP) is being tested to improve arm movement in people who have chronic stroke.
-
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.