Combined electrical stimulation and brain stimulation to help with foot drop after stroke

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

Researchers will examine if pairing tDCS with FES during physical therapy improves toe clearance and ankle movement in stroke survivors with foot drop. Participants will receive noninvasive brain stimulation on the scalp and electrical stimulation on the leg, along with leg-strengthening exercises. The goal is to see if the combination provides added benefit over standard therapy in reducing foot drop. The study is conducted at Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia and is open to adults who are at least six months post-stroke and can walk for 15 minutes unaided or with a cane. Safety monitoring and specific eligibility criteria are applied to ensure appropriate inclusion and exclusion.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria: To participate, you must be:

* 18 years or older
* Have had 1 or more strokes (\> 6 months) affecting ankle dorsiflexion.
* Discharged from all rehabilitative services.
* Can walk independently with/without using an assistive device such as a cane without an ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) for 15 minutes.

Exclusion Criteria: You must not have:

* An inability to repeat and understand 2-step commands.
* Peripheral neuropathy
* Damage to the skull or scalp, such as a fracture History of seizures or epilepsy Extremely high or low blood pressure or heart rate Chest pain or shortness of breath when you are resting Botox injections to your leg or foot in the last 4 months

Where it's running

• Saint Joseph's University
  Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States Recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Gregory Thielman, EdD — Saint Joseph's University
• Study coordinator: Greg Thielman, EdD
• Email: gthielman@sju.edu
• Phone: 8562667863

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How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.