Trial results for the "Noninvasive Spinal Stimulation in Stroke" study were posted on ClinicalTrials.gov on 2026-03-17. This randomized control trial evaluated transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation on gait and balance function for individuals with hemiplegia due to stroke, enrolling 8 participants.
Background
Stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability, often resulting in hemiplegia, which significantly impacts gait and balance. Rehabilitation efforts focus on improving motor function and mobility. This trial explored a non-invasive approach, transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation, combined with gait training, as a potential method to enhance recovery in stroke patients.
Trial design
This was a randomized control trial with an enrollment of 8 participants. The study investigated the condition of Stroke. The trial compared "Noninvasive Spinal Stimulation With Gait Training" against "Conventional Gait Training" to evaluate the effectiveness of transcutaneous (non-invasive) spinal cord stimulation on gait and balance function for individuals with hemiplegia due to stroke. The phase was listed as "NA".
Key results
The study reported on several key measurements related to gait and balance:
- Change in Step-length Symmetry Using Symmetry Index:
- For the "Noninvasive Spinal Stimulation With Gait Training" group, mean values were 72.2 (Standard Deviation 23.0) and 92.2 (Standard Deviation 5.4) Symmetry Index units.
- For the "Conventional Gait Training" group, mean values were 75.8 (Standard Deviation 16.1) and 76.0 (Standard Deviation 7.0) Symmetry Index units.
- Change in Swing-time Symmetry:
- In the "Noninvasive Spinal Stimulation With Gait Training" group, mean values were 57.9 (Standard Deviation 5.6) and 67.8 (Standard Deviation 9.1) Symmetry index units.
- In the "Conventional Gait Training" group, mean values were 57.8 (Standard Deviation 8.4) and 57.7 (Standard Deviation 9.2) Symmetry index units.
- Change in 10 Meter Walk Test - Self-selected Velocity:
- For the "Noninvasive Spinal Stimulation With Gait Training" group, mean velocities were 0.65 (Standard Deviation 0.19) and 0.82 (Standard Deviation 0.24) meters per second.
- For the "Conventional Gait Training" group, mean velocities were 0.68 (Standard Deviation 0.21) and 0.76 (Standard Deviation 0.25) meters per second.
What this means
The posted results provide initial data on the impact of noninvasive spinal stimulation combined with gait training for individuals with hemiplegia after a stroke. While specific statistical analyses comparing the groups were not provided in the key measurements, the reported mean values and standard deviations offer insights into the observed changes in step-length symmetry, swing-time symmetry, and self-selected walking velocity. Given the small enrollment of 8 participants, these findings are exploratory and would typically warrant further investigation in larger trials to determine clinical significance and efficacy.
Source
The information for these trial results was obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov, a public database of clinical studies. The results for the study NCT03714282, titled "Noninvasive Spinal Stimulation in Stroke", were posted on 2026-03-17 on clinicaltrials.gov.