Combining exercise with targeted therapy to improve reading after stroke
Official title: Improving Reading Competence in Aphasia With Combined Aerobic Exercise and Phono-Motor Treatment
Run by Kessler Foundation · NCT06213272 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing if combining exercise with reading therapy can help stroke survivors improve their reading skills and overall quality of life.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 85 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 70 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Kessler Foundation Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (West Orange, New Jersey) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | April 18, 2024 |
| Main results expected | March 1, 2029 |
| Study ends | March 1, 2029 |
| Registry record updated | August 13, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT06213272 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are individuals who are fluent in English, have experienced their first stroke more than three months ago, and exhibit specific reading deficits.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with prior neurological diseases, developmental reading disabilities, or contraindications to MRI or exercise may not benefit from this study.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This project aims to evaluate a novel treatment approach for reading disorders following a stroke by integrating exercise training with targeted reading therapy. The study will involve 70 individuals with chronic left-hemisphere stroke who will participate in 40 sessions of reading treatment alongside either aerobic exercise or light stretching. Participants will undergo MRI scans and behavioral testing to assess the effectiveness of the intervention in enhancing reading and language skills. The goal is to improve the quality of life for stroke survivors with aphasia by leveraging neurobiological principles.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could significantly enhance reading abilities and overall communication for stroke survivors with aphasia.
How similar studies have gone: While this approach is innovative, similar studies have shown promise in combining physical activity with cognitive rehabilitation, suggesting potential for success.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * fluent and literate in English prior to stroke * 1st ever stroke * more than 3 months post-stroke * post-stroke reading deficits, defined as reading aloud accuracy \<83% for single words or \<65% for readable nonwords * living within a 50-mile radius from Kessler Foundation. Exclusion Criteria: * contraindication to MRI * prior neurological disease * developmental learning or reading disability (i.e., developmental dyslexia) * contraindication to exercise * concurrent speech and language therapy
Where it's running
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Kessler Foundation
West Orange, New Jersey, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Olga Boukrina — Kessler Foundation
- Study coordinator: Olga Boukrina, PhD
- Email: oboukrina@kesslerfoundation.org
- Phone: 19733243587
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
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Tailoring rTMS for Post-Stroke Aphasia Based on Language Profile
A non-drug brain stimulation approach is tested to see if customizing rTMS targets improves language recovery in people with aphasia after a left-brain stroke.
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tDCS in Rehab for Stroke-Related Aphasia: A Practical Implementation
This study tests whether a 20-minute anodal tDCS session paired with speech therapy can be integrated into routine inpatient and outpatient rehab for people who recently had a stroke and now have aphasia.
-
Decoding Mandarin speech features from brain-surface signals
This project will try to decode imagined Mandarin speech, including lexical tones, from high-density brain-surface (ECoG) signals in adult patients who are having clinically indicated cortical electrode placement.
-
Digital speech-therapy app Zenicom for subacute post-stroke aphasia in Korean speakers
This trial will try the Zenicom digital speech-therapy app alongside conventional therapy to see if it helps Korean adults with aphasia after a recent (within 3 months) stroke.
-
Deep phenotyping to explore recovery in young adults after stroke
This project will test whether a detailed health and sample-collection approach (deep phenotyping) is practical and acceptable for people aged 18–55 who have had a stroke.
-
TMS plus language therapy to improve word-finding after left-hemisphere stroke
Researchers will try excitatory transcranial magnetic stimulation combined with semantic feature analysis language therapy to improve word-finding in adults with aphasia after left-hemisphere stroke.
How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.