Nerve Stimulation Combined With Physical Therapy After Stroke

This trial is testing whether ultrasound-guided percutaneous neuromodulation—a minimally invasive technique that uses electrical stimulation to activate specific nerves in the leg—can help stroke survivors recover better walking ability when combined with regular physical therapy. The treatment involves using ultrasound to guide a fine needle that delivers targeted electrical pulses to nerves that control leg movement. Researchers want to see if adding this treatment to standard physical therapy produces better improvements in walking speed, leg strength, and balance than physical therapy alone.

After a stroke, many people struggle with walking and leg weakness even after months of physical therapy. While standard physical therapy is helpful, recovery is often incomplete. Researchers believe that electrical stimulation of the leg nerves might help the brain relearn how to control leg movement better, potentially giving stroke survivors an additional tool to improve their walking and independence.