Personalized physiotherapy using robotic leg-press guidance for people with ALS
Official title: Individualized Physiotherapy Addressing Patient-Specific Deficits in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Compared to Usual Care Physiotherapy: A Prospective, Pseudorandomized, Controlled, Interventional Study
Run by Cantonal Hospital of St. Gallen · NCT07341984 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study will try a personalized physiotherapy program guided by a robotic leg-press to see if it helps adults with ALS maintain physical function better than standard physiotherapy.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 38 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Cantonal Hospital of St. Gallen Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Sankt Gallen) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | December 16, 2025 |
| Main results expected | December 15, 2027 |
| Study ends | December 15, 2028 |
| Registry record updated | January 15, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07341984 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults (≥18) with clinically probable, probable laboratory-supported, or definite ALS (or upper motor neuron only) who can consent and perform regular exercise sessions are ideal candidates.
✕Probably not a fit
People with tracheostomy, continuous assisted ventilation, significant non-ALS pulmonary disease, other confounding neuromuscular disorders, or who cannot safely perform the required exercises are unlikely to benefit from this protocol.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
Participants are assigned to either an individualized physiotherapy program tailored to their motor deficits using diagnostic data from a robotic leg-press system or to usual-care physiotherapy. The robotic assessments identify muscle strengths, weaknesses, and movement-control problems that guide a 3–5 sessions-per-week program of about 30 minutes per session. Participants are followed for 12 months to compare functional outcomes and safety between the two approaches. The goal is to refine physiotherapy strategies for people with ALS in a safe, patient-centered way.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could help people with ALS maintain mobility and daily function longer by tailoring exercises to each person's specific motor deficits.
How similar studies have gone: Exercise interventions in ALS have generally been shown to be safe and have produced modest functional benefits in some trials, but a robotic-guided, individualized physiotherapy approach is relatively novel with limited prior evidence.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * diagnosis of clinically probable, probable laboratory-supported, or definite ALS (revised El Escorial criteria) or upper motor neuron only (OPM classification \[onset, propagation, motoneuron involvement\]) * age ≥18 years; ability to understand study information and provide written informed consent * Willingness and ability to perform individualized exercise according to the study protocol (approximately three to five sessions of 30 minutes per week) for the duration of the intervention period * Individuals of all sexes and gender identities are eligible for inclusion Exclusion Criteria: * pregnancy, tracheostomy, continuous assisted ventilation, or other significant non-ALS pulmonary disease * other neurodegenerative or neuromuscular conditions that may confound assessments * concomitant life-threatening disease or impairment interfering with functional assessment
Where it's running
-
ALS Clinic
Sankt Gallen, Switzerland Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Charlotte Vogt
- Email: charlotte.vogt@h-och.ch
- Phone: 0041714943581
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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.