NCT Number: NCT07831642
Stroke survivors often walk more slowly and may have difficulty producing the movements needed to walk efficiently. This study will evaluate whether vibrotactile feedback, delivered through small wearable devices that provide vibrations during walking, can help individuals with chronic stroke change specific walking movements related to walking speed, propulsion, and balance.
Participants will complete a single study visit at Bucknell University. During the visit, participants will perform several walking trials with and without vibrotactile feedback and will complete common clinical mobility and balance assessments. Motion capture technology and wearable sensors will be used to measure movement during walking.
The goal of this study is to better understand how vibrotactile feedback can be used to improve walking performance after stroke and to support the future development of rehabilitation approaches for stroke survivors.
Trial opening soon.
Get Notified18 year–85 year
All sexes
Interventional
Not applicable
Post-stroke gait rehabilitation frequently targets walking speed because improved walking speed is associated with greater functional mobility and community participation. Forward propulsion is strongly related to walking speed, but the biomechanical concepts commonly targeted in rehabilitation can be difficult for patients to understand and apply during walking. Vibrotactile biofeedback may provide a simple and intuitive method of promoting desirable gait modifications by delivering real-time feedback based on clinically meaningful movement parameters.
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the immediate effects of vibrotactile feedback on walking biomechanics in individuals with chronic stroke. Specifically, the study will investigate whether vibrotactile feedback can increase walking speed and forward propulsion, improve symmetry of gait-related measures, and reduce lateral trunk sway during walking. The study will also explore the use of wearable inertial measurement units (IMUs) to objectively quantify movement during common clinical mobility and balance assessments.
Participants will complete a single study visit at the Bucknell University Biomechanics Laboratory. During the visit, motion capture technology, wearable inertial measurement units, timing gates, and force plates will be used to measure walking biomechanics. Participants will complete walking trials under baseline and vibrotactile feedback conditions targeting trailing limb angle, ankle plantarflexion, and trunk sway. Participants will also complete the Timed Up and Go (TUG) assessment and the Berg Balance Scale (BBS).
The information collected in this study will be used to improve understanding of how vibrotactile feedback can influence gait biomechanics after stroke and may support future development of rehabilitation approaches intended to improve walking function and mobility in stroke survivors.
Healthy volunteers accepted: No
Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.
Inclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria
Participants will receive vibrotactile feedback using a wearable SageMotion system consisting of inertial measurement units mounted on elastic straps. The system calculates joint angles during walking and provides vibration-based feedback when predefined movement goals are achieved. Feedback conditions will target trailing limb angle, ankle plantarflexion, and trunk sway during walking.
Time frame: Single study visit (Day 1)
Walking speed measured during walking trials using timing gates and compared between baseline and vibrotactile feedback conditions.
Time frame: Single study visit (Day 1)
Maximum anterior ground reaction force measured during walking trials using force plate data and compared between baseline and vibrotactile feedback conditions.
Time frame: Single study visit (Day 1)
Trailing limb angle measured during walking trials using motion capture and wearable sensor data and compared between baseline and vibrotactile feedback conditions.
Time frame: Single study visit (Day 1)
Peak ankle plantarflexion angle measured during walking trials using motion capture and wearable sensor data and compared between baseline and vibrotactile feedback conditions.
Time frame: Single study visit (Day 1)
Symmetry ratio calculated between limbs for trailing limb angle, ankle plantarflexion angle, and forward propulsion during walking trials.
Time frame: Single study visit (Day 1)
Magnitude of lateral trunk sway measured during walking trials using motion capture and wearable sensor data and compared between baseline and vibrotactile feedback conditions.
Time frame: Single study visit (Day 1)
Performance on the Timed Up and Go assessment collected during the study visit and used to explore relationships between clinical mobility measures and wearable sensor measurements.
Time frame: Single study visit (Day 1)
Performance on the Berg Balance Scale assessment collected during the study visit and used to explore relationships between clinical balance measures and wearable sensor measurements
Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.
Margo Donlin, PhD
CONTACT
Ryan Roza, MD
CONTACT
Geisinger Clinic
Other
Use of Vibrotactile Feedback to Increase Propulsion in Individuals With Chronic Stroke
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