Robotic walking with added targeted vibration to improve post-stroke gait
The Potential of Robotic-Assisted Gait Training in a Rehabilitation Settin
This trial tests whether adding Vibramoov® vibration therapy to Lokomat® robotic gait training helps people after stroke walk better.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 40 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 80 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Arthritis and Rehabilitation Research network |
| Locations | 1 site (Gröbming, Styria) |
| Trial ID | NCT07529054 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This randomized controlled trial will compare Lokomat® robotic-assisted gait training combined with the Vibramoov® functional proprioceptive stimulation device versus Lokomat® training alone in patients undergoing a four-week neurological inpatient rehabilitation program. Vibramoov® delivers targeted vibratory stimuli to muscle-tendon junctions to activate proprioceptors and sensorimotor centers, while the Lokomat® provides repetitive, task-specific assisted treadmill walking. Participants meeting cognitive and mobility criteria will be randomly assigned to one of the two groups and will complete protocolized training during their inpatient stay. Outcomes include qualitative and quantitative gait parameters such as walking speed, step length, and broader gait biomechanics to determine whether the combined approach yields greater improvements.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults 18–80 at least 3 months after ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke with moderate walking impairment (e.g., 6MWT ≤ 200 m, FAC ≤ 4, BBS ≤ 49), adequate cognition (MMSE ≥ 24), and lower-extremity spasticity MAS 0–3 are the intended participants.
Not a fit: Patients with severe comorbidities or other disabilities that preclude gait training, uncontrolled medical conditions, very mild or very severe gait deficits outside the inclusion criteria, or insufficient cognition are unlikely to benefit from this protocol.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the combined approach could improve walking speed, step length, and overall gait quality, translating to better mobility and daily function for stroke survivors.
How similar studies have performed: Small pilot studies combining focal sensory or vibratory stimulation with gait training have shown promising but mixed results, and large definitive randomized trials are still limited.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Diagnosis of stroke (ischemic or hemorrhagic) ≥ 3 months * Age ≥ 18a and ≤ 80a * 6MWT ≤ 200m * Barthel Index ≤ 95 * Mini Mental State Exam (MMSE) ≥ 24 * FAC: ≤ 4 * BBS): ≤49 * Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS): 0-3 for the lower extremity Exclusion Criteria: * The presence of any comorbidity or disability other than stroke that would preclude gait training * Any uncontrolled health condition for which exercise is contraindicated
Where this trial is running
Gröbming, Styria
- Reha-Zentrum Gröbming — Gröbming, Styria, Austria (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Maximilian Kondler, BSc, MMSc
- Email: maximilian.kondler@pv.at
- Phone: +43(0)3685-22323
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.