Robotic-assisted walking therapy for people in the subacute phase of stroke
Official title: The Effectiveness of Subacute Stroke Patients Receiving Robotic Assisted Gait Training
Run by Changhua Christian Hospital · NCT07040215 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This trial will test whether adding robotic-assisted gait training to regular physical therapy helps people 1 to 3 months after a stroke improve their walking and daily function.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 45 Years to 70 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 40 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Changhua Christian Hospital Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Changhua, Taiwan) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | July 1, 2025 |
| Main results expected | April 30, 2026 |
| Study ends | April 30, 2026 |
| Registry record updated | June 27, 2025 |
| Trial ID | NCT07040215 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are people 1 to 3 months after ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke who have moderate-to-good standing balance, can follow instructions cognitively, weigh 90 kg or less, and can attend in-person rehabilitation sessions.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with severe cardiovascular or cardiopulmonary disease, very high spasticity or joint contractures, other neurological disorders, major cognitive impairment, or who exceed the device weight limit are unlikely to benefit or be eligible.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This is a randomized controlled trial enrolling 20 subacute stroke patients who will be assigned to either robotic-assisted gait training plus traditional physiotherapy or to traditional physiotherapy alone. The robotic intervention uses a Freewalk lower-limb device to provide high-intensity, repetitive gait practice in addition to routine rehabilitation. Gait performance and functional measures will be collected during the rehabilitation period to compare the two groups. The study is single-center and aims to inform more personalized post-stroke rehabilitation approaches.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the combined approach could speed recovery of walking ability and improve daily functional mobility for subacute stroke patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous randomized trials and meta-analyses have shown that robotic-assisted gait training can improve walking speed and functional outcomes for some subacute stroke patients, although results have varied by patient subgroup and device.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Diagnosed with stroke (ischemic or hemorrhagic) confirmed by medical imaging. * Subacute phase of stroke (onset within 1 to 3 months). * Moderate to good standing balance ability. * Sufficient cognitive ability to understand the study and follow instructions. * Able to participate in rehabilitation training during the study period. Exclusion Criteria: * Body weight over 90 kg. * Presence of other neurological disorders. * Severe cardiovascular disease or other health conditions affecting mobility. * Significant lower limb pain, joint contracture, or spasticity (Modified Ashworth Scale score \> 3) that impairs walking. * Diagnosed with cardiopulmonary disease that contraindicates exercise training. * Cognitive impairment that prevents understanding of training instructions or completion of questionnaires. * Inability to complete the rehabilitation training protocol.
Where it's running
-
Changhua Christian Hospital
Changhua, Taiwan, Taiwan Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Su-Fen Liao — Changhua Christian Hospital
- Study coordinator: Office of Human Subject Protection Changhua Christian Hospital
- Email: d9010@cch.org.tw
- Phone: 886-4-7238595
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
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VNS with Rehab to Improve Gait After Stroke
This study tests whether adding vagus nerve stimulation to gait rehabilitation helps stroke survivors improve walking.
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This program will test how much split-belt treadmill walking with virtual reality people in the first three months after a stroke can safely tolerate.
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This program tests whether adding noninvasive brain stimulation to robotic balance training helps people with chronic stroke who still have balance and walking problems.
-
MINT Conditioning to Improve Gait
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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.
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Personalized exercise program to improve walking in stroke patients
This study tests if a personalized exercise program can help stroke patients improve their walking and balance better than a standard exercise routine.
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.