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Split-Belt Gait Retraining in Subacute Stroke

NCT07601633 · Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 30

Last updated 2026-05-22

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability in adults. Although many individuals regain independent walking ability following stroke, nearly 50% experience persistent gait impairments characterized by asymmetrical walking patterns, slower walking speed, impaired balance, and increased fall risk. These persistent mobility limitations highlight the continued need for innovative rehabilitation strategies that improve gait function during stroke recovery. Split-belt treadmill walking (SBTW), in which each leg walks at a different belt speed, has demonstrated potential to improve step length symmetry in individuals with chronic stroke. However, the effects of SBTW during the subacute stage of stroke recovery, within the first 9 months post-stroke when neuroplasticity may be heightened, remain largely unknown. In addition, previous SBTW studies have not integrated active physiotherapist-led gait retraining into the intervention, despite physiotherapist-led gait rehabilitation representing standard clinical care following stroke. The purpose of this randomized controlled trial is to compare physiotherapist-led gait retraining using a traditional treadmill training protocol to physiotherapist-led gait retraining integrated with a split-belt treadmill training protocol during the first 9 months post-stroke. The study aims to examine the effectiveness of the use of split-belt treadmill training to augment physiotherapist-led gait retraining to improve between-leg gait symmetry and overground walking speed.

Conditions

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Split-belt walking training

Participants randomized to the split-belt training group will complete 12 sessions of split-belt treadmill walking training over 4 weeks, delivered 3 times per week. Training will be performed on an instrumented split-belt treadmill and will include split-belt and tied-belt walking conditions. A physiotherapist will provide gait retraining during each session.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • University of British Columbia

    lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2026-06-01
Primary Completion
2029-01-01
Completion
2029-07-01

Countries

  • Canada

Study Locations

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Entities

Diseases

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT07601633 on ClinicalTrials.gov