NCT04957355Recruiting
Effect of NMES on Balance and Fall Risk in Chronic Stroke
Effect of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) on Reactive Balance, Gait and Fall-risk in Individuals With Stroke
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Last updated 22 May 2026
Brief summary (registry, in English)
The aim of this study is to describe the effect of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) in the form of functional electrical stimulation (FES) applied to different lower limb muscles on reactive balance and gait performance in stroke participants. Methods: Twenty individuals with chronic stroke will be asked to perform an experimental protocol that includes a postural disturbance in the form of a slip- or trip-like perturbation and a standardized walking test in both laboratory and outdoor environments with and without FES applied to different lower limb muscles of the paretic leg. FES will be applied using an advanced software that is able to synchronize muscle activation with the time of perturbation onset and according to the phases of gait. This project design aims to examine whether a specific pattern of lower limb muscle stimulation could improve the kinematic and behavioral responses during reactive balance following slip- and trip-like perturbations. Additionally, the project aims to see if the kinematic and spatio-temporal gait parameters can be modified during a standardized walking test under different sensory and environmental conditions.
- Status (registry)
- Recruiting
- Study type
- Interventional
- Enrollment
- 20 (estimated)
- First submitted
- 11 Jun 2021
- Start date
- 15 May 2021
- Primary completion date
- 31 Aug 2027
- Lead sponsor
- University of Illinois Chicago
- Diseases
- Stroke
- NCT number
- NCT04957355
What you commit to
- Study type: Interventional
- Planned participants: 20
- From 15 May 2021 to the primary completion date, 31 Aug 2027
- 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
- Recent major surgery (\< 6 months) or hospitalization (\< 3 months).
Other illness
- Any neurological condition other than stroke.
- Deep venous thrombosis.
- Antecedent of cancer.
- Uncontrolled high blood pressure/angina.
- Skin condition not tolerant with FES therapy.
- Uncontrolled seizure disorder.
- History of epilepsy.
Age
- Subjects will not proceed with the test if any of the following occurs at baseline measurement: 1) HR \> 85% of age-predicted maximal heart rate (HRmax) (HRmax = 220 - age), 2) systolic blood pressure (SBP) \> 165 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) \> 110 mmHg during rest, or 3) oxygen saturation (measured by pulse oximeter) \< 95% during rest.
Other
- Body weight more than 250 lbs.
- Any cardiopulmonary, musculoskeletal, or systemic diagnosis.
- Peripheral nerve injury or neuropathy in the affected limb with motor disability.
- Spasticity (Ashworth scale \> 2).
- Botox treatment within the last 5 months.
- Pacemaker users.
- Excluded or Vulnerable Populations Non-English speaking populations will be excluded as the consent procedures and instructions will be in English.
Who the study is looking for
- Age group: 18-90 years.
- Presence of hemiparesis.
- Onset of stroke (\> 6 months).
- Ability to walk independently with or without an assistive device for at least 300 ft.
- Can understand and communicate in English.
- Cognitively and behaviorally capable of complying with the regimen (Montreal Cognitive Assessment \> 25/30).
Age in the registry: 18 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Illinois at Chicago Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status | Chicago | United States | Recruiting |
This page is information, not medical advice. Discuss any trial with your doctor.