NCT04877444Active, not recruiting
Exercise Primed Stroke Rehabilitation
Priming the Rehabilitation Engine: Aerobic Exercise as the Fuel to Spark Behavioral Improvements in Stroke
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Last updated 13 Oct 2026
Brief summary (registry, in English)
Stroke is a leading cause of disability in the U.S. and many Veteran stroke survivors live with severe disability. Despite recent advances in rehabilitation treatments many stroke survivors have persistent physical and mental difficulties such as reduced physical and cognitive function and depression. Developing innovative treatments that address these problems is necessary to improve long-term outcomes for stroke survivors. Aerobic exercise (AEx) can improve physical and cognitive function, and reduce depression. Additionally, AEx may enhance physical rehabilitation by making the brain more receptive to, and consequently improving the response to an intervention. Therefore, combining AEx with physical rehabilitation has the potential to improve multiple aspects of stroke recovery. This study will examine the effect of combining AEx with physical rehabilitation on physical and mental function in stroke survivors. By gaining a better understanding of the effects of this combined intervention the investigators aim to advance the rehabilitative care of Veteran stroke survivors.
- Status (registry)
- Active, not recruiting
- Study type
- Interventional
- Enrollment
- 36 (actual)
- First submitted
- 26 Apr 2021
- Start date
- 1 Jul 2021
- Primary completion date
- 30 Sept 2026
- Lead sponsor
- VA Office of Research and Development
- Diseases
- Stroke
- NCT number
- NCT04877444
What you commit to
- Study type: Interventional
- Participants enrolled: 36
- From 1 Jul 2021 to the primary completion date, 30 Sept 2026
- 1 site in 1 country
- Visits and tests: ask the trial team, the registry does not list them
Built from the registry fields of ClinicalTrials.gov. It describes the study, not your situation.
Who cannot take part
Copied verbatim from ClinicalTrials.gov and grouped by topic. Only the trial team decides who can take part.
Prior treatment
- orthopedic condition or impaired corrected vision that alters reaching ability (e.g., prior rotator cuff tear without full recovery)
- electronic or metallic implants
Other illness
- presence of other neurological disease that may impair motor learning skills
- severe cognitive impairment (Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score 17)
- history of congestive heart failure, unstable cardiac arrhythmias, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, severe aortic stenosis, angina or dyspnea at rest or during Activities of daily living (ADL's)
- Severe hypertension with systolic \>200 mmHg and diastolic \>110 mmHg at rest
- History of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or oxygen dependence
- History of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism within 6 months
- Uncontrolled diabetes with recent weight loss, diabetic coma, or frequent insulin reactions
- history of seizures
Other
- lesion in brainstem/cerebellum as these may interfere with visual-perceptual/cognitive skills needed for motor re-learning
- paretic arm pain that interferes with reaching
- unable to understand or follow 3-step directions
- severe aphasia
- inability to read English
- UBACC score \< 15; and for brain stimulation procedures only:
- women of child bearing potential
Who the study is looking for
- experienced unilateral stroke at least 6 months prior
- voluntarily shoulder flexion of the affected arm 20 degrees with simultaneous elbow extension 10 degrees
- moderate arm movement impairment (UE Fugl-Meyer Assessment \> 21 but \< 52 points
- passive range of motion in paretic shoulder, elbow, wrist, thumb and fingers within 20 degrees of normal
- ability to communicate as per the therapists' judgement at baseline testing
- ability to complete and pass an exercise tolerance test
- Box \& Block test score of at least 3 blocks in 60 seconds with the affected arm
Age in the registry: 50 years to 90 years · Sex: All · Does not accept healthy volunteers
Sites (1)
Sites in registry order. Pick your city on the disease page to sort them by distance.
| Site | City | Country | Site status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, Charleston, SC Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status | Charleston | United States | Unknown status |
This page is information, not medical advice. Discuss any trial with your doctor.