Recruiting

Testing a smart electrical stimulation system to improve walking after stroke

Plain-English translation of NCT07189819 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated July 2026 · Translation generated August 2026 · How we translate trials

This study doesn't follow the usual testing phases — it may be an observational study or a different type of research.

What is this trial?

This trial is testing a new type of functional electrical stimulation (FES) system — a device that uses mild electrical pulses to help muscles work better — to improve walking in people who've had a stroke. The new system is "smart" because it automatically adjusts the strength of stimulation based on your muscle's needs, unlike older systems that use the same fixed level throughout. Researchers hope this will reduce muscle fatigue and help you walk better with less risk of falling.

After a stroke, many people develop footdrop — a condition where the ankle doesn't lift properly during walking, making it harder to move around and increasing fall risk. While electrical stimulation can help, current systems don't automatically adjust to prevent muscle fatigue or overstimulation, which limits how well they work. This trial aims to solve that problem with smarter technology.

Do you qualify?

You likely qualify if…

you are at least 6 months past your stroke
you are able to walk at least 10 meters with or without a cane or walker
you have the heart health and ankle stability needed to safely walk on a treadmill
your ankle has enough range of motion to benefit from electrical stimulation to the muscles that lift your foot
your resting heart rate is between 40 and 100 beats per minute

You likely don't qualify if…

you have signs of cerebellar stroke (a certain type of brain injury affecting balance)
you are confused about basic information like the current month, year, or age
you cannot communicate clearly with the research team
you have vision loss or neglect from your stroke that affects your ability to participate safely
you have numbness in the leg affected by stroke, or other medical or muscle conditions that limit your ability to walk

What participation looks like

You will try two different electrical stimulation systems — the new smart system and a conventional system — during walking tests on a treadmill and on the ground. Half the participants will try the new system first, then the conventional one; the other half will do the reverse order. During each session, electrodes will deliver mild electrical pulses to help your ankle muscles work, and researchers will measure how well you walk and track any muscle fatigue.

AI-generated summary from trial data · Aug 6, 2026 · Not medical advice

Trial locations(1 site)

United States

Emory Rehabilitation Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia