Variable-friction shoe for foot drop after stroke
Characterization and clinical trial of a Variable Friction Shoe, a new paradigm of reduced-constraint locomotor therapy for people exhibiting foot drop due to stroke
['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SANTA BARBARA · NIH-11168776
A special shoe that changes its sole grip and makes a small click to help people with foot drop from stroke walk more safely and improve their walking over time.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SANTA BARBARA (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (SANTA BARBARA, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11168776 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
You would wear a Variable Friction (VF) shoe that has a high-friction outsole during the stance phase and low friction during swing, letting you move your ankle freely while reducing tripping. The shoe also produces a brief clicking sound when a scuff happens to give gait-timed auditory feedback. Researchers will measure immediate effects on walking speed and safety and follow participants over time to see whether walking improves even when not wearing the shoe. The project compares this approach to common devices like ankle-foot orthoses and functional electrical stimulation to look for both short-term support and longer-term therapeutic gains.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults with foot drop following stroke who can walk with or without assistive devices but have trouble with scuffing or tripping.
Not a fit: People with very severe ankle weakness, fixed joint contractures, inability to walk safely in a clinic setting, or certain non-stroke causes of foot drop may not benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the shoe could lower the risk of trips and falls and improve walking speed and independence both while worn and after training.
How similar studies have performed: Existing devices like AFOs and FES reliably help while worn but rarely produce lasting recovery, while early pilot data for the VF shoe show promising immediate and some long-term improvements.
Where this research is happening
SANTA BARBARA, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SANTA BARBARA — SANTA BARBARA, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: HAWKES, ELLIOT WRIGHT — UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SANTA BARBARA
- Study coordinator: HAWKES, ELLIOT WRIGHT
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.