Improving Balance and Walking After Spinal Cord Injury

This study is testing new ways to improve balance and walking for people with spinal cord injury (SCI). Researchers want to see if combining robotic training that gently pushes your pelvis (pelvis perturbation training) with a type of electrical stimulation to the spinal cord (transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation, or tsDCS) works better than traditional treadmill training. You could be eligible if you are between 18 and 65, have a SCI between C4-T10, and can walk on a treadmill for over 20 minutes. The main goal is to see how much your walking speed improves after 6 weeks of training and then 8 weeks later. The current status of this study is unclear.

Study design
This study involves 54 participants and compares three different training groups: robotic training with electrical stimulation, robotic training with a sham (inactive) stimulation, and treadmill training only.
What's involved
Not specified in the trial record.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Your walking speed will be checked at the end of 6 weeks of training and again 8 weeks after training has finished.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT02991248

Improve Dynamic Lateral Balance of Humans With SCI

Recruiting
NAAges 18–65InterventionalTreatment
Shirley Ryan AbilityLab
~54 participants
Updated 2025-06-03 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:robotic trainingspinal cord electrical stimulationtreadmill

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Changes in overground gait speed from baseline
Measured over post 6 weeks of training and 8 weeks after the end of training
Spinal Cord Injury
1 sites across 1 states
Illinois1
  • Ming Wu, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Shirley Ryan AbilityLab

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  • Changes in overground gait speed from baselinepost 6 weeks of training and 8 weeks after the end of training

    gait speed