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StrokePhase 1/2NCT04550728

Hybrid Robot+FES Stroke Rehabilitation

A Phase 1/2 study testing Ankle robot training group and Ankle robot training and functional electrical stimulation(FES) group in people with Stroke, run by University of Maryland, Baltimore at 1 site in United States.

Recruiting

Looking for participants now. Contact the study team or a site below to ask about taking part.

Sites and contacts
Official record
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Trial summary

The investigators have developed a novel robot-guided stretching under intelligent control and combine it with active movement training, which helped increase joint ROM, reduce spasticity and joint stiffness, increase muscle force output, and improve locomotion. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 85 years
Conditions the study is for
Stroke
What is being tested?
Ankle robot training group and Ankle robot training and functional electrical stimulation(FES) group
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
60 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
1 Aug 2021to 31 Dec 2026
Phase
Phase 1/2
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 85 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Age 18-85;
  • Able to ambulate at least 10 meters without human assistance, with or without an assistive device
  • ≥ 6 months post stroke;
  • having a caregiver to assist in training at home.

Who cannot join

  • having expressive and receptive aphasia;
  • an inability to follow multi-step commands;
  • enrolled in another lower limb rehabilitation program;
  • having severe pain in the paralyzed lower-limb;
  • >30º ankle plantar flexion contracture;
  • Having implanted electronic device such as a pacemaker, spinal cord, or deep brain stimulator because FES may potentially interfere with their functions.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

Li-qun Zhang, PhD contact

410 706 2145

L-Zhang@som.umaryland.edu

United States1 site, 1 recruiting
  • University of Maryland School of Medicine

    Baltimore, Maryland, 21201

    Li-Qun Zhang, PhD

    Recruiting

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: Assessment Followed by Home-based Hybrid Robot + FES Rehabilitation Post-stroke

The investigators have developed a novel robot-guided stretching under intelligent control and combine it with active movement training, which helped increase joint ROM, reduce spasticity and joint stiffness, increase muscle force output, and improve locomotion. However, for stroke survivors with sensorimotor impairment, their peripheral muscle may not sufficiently be recruited. Functional electrical stimulation (FES), has been shown its advantage to activate the peripheral muscles for people with neurological conditions. The investigators thus make a hybrid robot-FES rehabilitation system, combining the advantage of robot and FES technologies for stroke motor recovery. The investigators further would like to translate the technologies from lab to home-based training. Thus, the investigators will conduct a randomized, controlled, primarily home-based clinical trial using an ankle robot alone or combined with functional electrical stimulation (FES) to treat sensorimotor and locomotion impairments post-stroke.

Conditions
Stroke
Being tested
Ankle robot training group, Ankle robot training and functional electrical stimulation(FES) group
Keywords
stroke, functional electrical stimulation, robot training
Medical subject headings
Stroke

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Ankle robot training groupCombination product

    Patients will be seated with the paretic foot strapped to the footplate the knee at full extension. The operator will set up and measure (using the robot) ankle passive DF and PF ROM limits. The robot training will include passive stretching, robot interactive game-based training, and cool-down stretching.

  • Ankle robot training and functional electrical stimulation(FES) groupCombination product

    Patients will use the ankle robot device as the ankle training group. Also, water-based FES electrodes positioned inside a soft garment will be secured over the DF and PF muscles by wrapping the garment around the leg just below the knee joint. Stimulation intensity will be increased to maximal tolerance of each participant. Electrically induced contraction timing will be triggered by the ankle robot in synchrony with the ankle dorsi and plantar flexion movements.

Study groups in NCT04550728
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
FES+robotExperimentalParticipants in this group will have FES during ankle robot training
Receives: Combination Product: Ankle robot training and functional electrical stimulation(FES) group
RobotActive comparatorParticipants in this group will have ankle robot training only
Receives: Combination Product: Ankle robot training group

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Fugl-Meyer Lower Extremity

    The assessment is a measure of lower extremity (LE) motor and sensory impairments post-stroke.

    Measured: Baseline

  2. Fugl-Meyer Lower Extremity

    The assessment is a measure of lower extremity (LE) motor and sensory impairments post-stroke.

    Measured: 6 weeks

  3. Fugl-Meyer Lower Extremity

    The assessment is a measure of lower extremity (LE) motor and sensory impairments post-stroke.

    Measured: 12 weeks

  4. Dorsiflexion active range of motion

    Joint ankle active range of motion measured by ankle robot.

    Measured: Baseline

  5. Dorsiflexion active range of motion

    Joint ankle active range of motion measured by ankle robot.

    Measured: 6 weeks

  6. Dorsiflexion active range of motion

    Joint ankle active range of motion measured by ankle robot.

    Measured: 12 weeks

  7. 6 minutes walking test

    The six-minute walk test (6MWT) measures the distance an individual is able to walk over a total of six minutes on a hard, flat surface. The goal is for the individual to walk as far as possible in six minutes.

    Measured: Baseline

  8. 6 minutes walking test

    The six-minute walk test (6MWT) measures the distance an individual is able to walk over a total of six minutes on a hard, flat surface. The goal is for the individual to walk as far as possible in six minutes.

    Measured: 6 weeks

  9. 6 minutes walking test

    The six-minute walk test (6MWT) measures the distance an individual is able to walk over a total of six minutes on a hard, flat surface. The goal is for the individual to walk as far as possible in six minutes.

    Measured: 12 weeks

  10. Medical thickness of medial gastrocnemius muscle and tibial anterior muscle

    B-model ultrasound will be used to scan the muscle thickness, and the image will be further proceeded to measure the muscle thickness with unit in centimetres.

    Measured: Baseline

  11. Medical thickness of medial gastrocnemius muscle and tibial anterior muscle

    B-model ultrasound will be used to scan the muscle thickness, and the image will be further proceeded to measure the muscle thickness with unit in centimetres.

    Measured: 6 week

  12. Medical thickness of medial gastrocnemius muscle and tibial anterior muscle

    B-model ultrasound will be used to scan the muscle thickness, and the image will be further proceeded to measure the muscle thickness with unit in centimetres.

    Measured: 12 week

  13. Muscle fiber pennation angle of medial gastrocnemius muscle and tibial anterior muscle

    B-model ultrasound will be used to scan the muscle and the image will be further proceeded to measure the muscle fiber pennation angle with unit in degree.

    Measured: Baseline

  14. Muscle fiber pennation angle of medial gastrocnemius muscle and tibial anterior muscle

    B-model ultrasound will be used to scan the muscle and the image will be further proceeded to measure the muscle fiber pennation angle with unit in degree.

    Measured: 6 week

  15. Muscle fiber pennation angle of medial gastrocnemius muscle and tibial anterior muscle

    B-model ultrasound will be used to assess the muscle thickness, muscle fiber pennation angle. Elasticity will be measured using ultrasound elastography.

    Measured: 12 week

Secondary outcomes (18)
  1. Timed up-to-go

    The Timed Up and Go test (TUG) is a simple test used to assess a person's mobility and requires both static and dynamic balance. It uses the time that a person takes to rise from a chair, walk three meters, turn around, walk back to the chair, and sit down.

    Measured: Baseline

  2. Timed up-to-go

    The Timed Up and Go test (TUG) is a simple test used to assess a person's mobility and requires both static and dynamic balance. It uses the time that a person takes to rise from a chair, walk three meters, turn around, walk back to the chair, and sit down.

    Measured: 6 weeks

  3. Timed up-to-go

    The Timed Up and Go test (TUG) is a simple test used to assess a person's mobility and requires both static and dynamic balance. It uses the time that a person takes to rise from a chair, walk three meters, turn around, walk back to the chair, and sit down.

    Measured: 12 weeks

  4. Stroke Rehabilitation Assessment of Movement (STREAM)

    Stroke Rehabilitation Assessment of Movement Measure (STREAM) provides therapists with a quantitative measurement of motor functioning and basic mobility deficits among patients who had a stroke through the performance of 30 voluntary motor tasks of the upper extremities (UE) and lower extremities (LE).

    Measured: baseline

  5. Stroke Rehabilitation Assessment of Movement (STREAM)

    Stroke Rehabilitation Assessment of Movement Measure (STREAM) provides therapists with a quantitative measurement of motor functioning and basic mobility deficits among patients who had a stroke through the performance of 30 voluntary motor tasks of the upper extremities (UE) and lower extremities (LE).

    Measured: 6 weeks

  6. Stroke Rehabilitation Assessment of Movement (STREAM)

    Stroke Rehabilitation Assessment of Movement Measure (STREAM) provides therapists with a quantitative measurement of motor functioning and basic mobility deficits among patients who had a stroke through the performance of 30 voluntary motor tasks of the upper extremities (UE) and lower extremities (LE).

    Measured: 12 weeks

  7. Brief Balance Evaluation Systems Test(Brief-BESTest)

    The Brief BESTest is a clinical balance assessment tool. It is an abbreviated version of Balance Evaluation Systems Test (BESTest), designed to assess 6 different aspects contributing to postural control in standing and walking.

    Measured: baseline

  8. Brief Balance Evaluation Systems Test(Brief-BESTest)

    The Brief BESTest is a clinical balance assessment tool. It is an abbreviated version of Balance Evaluation Systems Test (BESTest), designed to assess 6 different aspects contributing to postural control in standing and walking.

    Measured: 6 weeks

  9. Brief Balance Evaluation Systems Test(Brief-BESTest)

    The Brief BESTest is a clinical balance assessment tool. It is an abbreviated version of Balance Evaluation Systems Test (BESTest), designed to assess 6 different aspects contributing to postural control in standing and walking.

    Measured: 12 weeks

  10. Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS)

    The Modified Ashworth Scale is the most widely used assessment tool to measure resistance to limb movement in a clinic setting. Scores range from 0-4, with 6 choices. 0 (0) - No increase in muscle tone; 1 (1) - Slight increase in muscle tone, manifested by a catch and release or by minimal resistance at the end of the range of motion when the affected part(s) is moved in flexion or extension; 1+ (2) - Slight increase in muscle tone, manifested by a catch, followed by minimal resistance throughout the remainder (less than half) of the range of movement (ROM); 2 (3) - More marked increase in muscle tone through most of the ROM, but affect part(s) easily moved; 3 (4) - Considerable increase in muscle tone passive, movement difficult; 4 (5) - Affected part(s) rigid in flexion or extension.

    Measured: baseline

  11. Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS)

    The Modified Ashworth Scale is the most widely used assessment tool to measure resistance to limb movement in a clinic setting. Scores range from 0-4, with 6 choices. 0 (0) - No increase in muscle tone; 1 (1) - Slight increase in muscle tone, manifested by a catch and release or by minimal resistance at the end of the range of motion when the affected part(s) is moved in flexion or extension; 1+ (2) - Slight increase in muscle tone, manifested by a catch, followed by minimal resistance throughout the remainder (less than half) of the range of movement (ROM); 2 (3) - More marked increase in muscle tone through most of the ROM, but affect part(s) easily moved; 3 (4) - Considerable increase in muscle tone passive, movement difficult; 4 (5) - Affected part(s) rigid in flexion or extension.

    Measured: 6 weeks

  12. Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS)

    The Modified Ashworth Scale is the most widely used assessment tool to measure resistance to limb movement in a clinic setting. Scores range from 0-4, with 6 choices. 0 (0) - No increase in muscle tone; 1 (1) - Slight increase in muscle tone, manifested by a catch and release or by minimal resistance at the end of the range of motion when the affected part(s) is moved in flexion or extension; 1+ (2) - Slight increase in muscle tone, manifested by a catch, followed by minimal resistance throughout the remainder (less than half) of the range of movement (ROM); 2 (3) - More marked increase in muscle tone through most of the ROM, but affect part(s) easily moved; 3 (4) - Considerable increase in muscle tone passive, movement difficult; 4 (5) - Affected part(s) rigid in flexion or extension.

    Measured: 12 weeks

  13. 10-meter walk test (10MWT)

    The 10 Metre Walk Test is a performance measure used to assess walking speed in metres per second over a short distance. It can be employed to determine functional mobility, gait, and vestibular function.

    Measured: baseline

  14. 10-meter walk test (10MWT)

    The 10 Metre Walk Test is a performance measure used to assess walking speed in metres per second over a short distance. It can be employed to determine functional mobility, gait, and vestibular function.

    Measured: 6 weeks

  15. 10-meter walk test (10MWT)

    The 10 Metre Walk Test is a performance measure used to assess walking speed in metres per second over a short distance. It can be employed to determine functional mobility, gait, and vestibular function.

    Measured: 12 weeks

  16. Stiffness of medial gastrocnemius muscle and tibial anterior muscle.

    Supersonic shear wave elastography will be used to estimate the shear wave speed(m/s) of the muscles.

    Measured: Baseline

  17. Stiffness of medial gastrocnemius muscle and tibial anterior muscle.

    Supersonic shear wave elastography will be used to estimate the shear wave speed(m/s) of the muscles.

    Measured: 6 weeks

  18. Stiffness of medial gastrocnemius muscle and tibial anterior muscle.

    Supersonic shear wave elastography will be used to estimate the shear wave speed(m/s) of the muscles.

    Measured: 12 weeks

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted16 Sep 2020
  2. Study start1 Aug 2021
  3. Primary completion1 Oct 2026 (estimated)
  4. Study completion31 Dec 2026 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase 1/2
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Single blind
Who is masked
Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
60 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT04550728
Sponsor's protocol ID
HP-00089895
Status last verified
Dec 2025
First submitted
3 Sep 2020
Last updated
18 Dec 2025
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Zhang LQ, Chung SG, Bai Z, Xu D, van Rey EM, Rogers MW, Johnson ME, Roth EJ. Intelligent stretching of ankle joints with contracture/spasticity. IEEE Trans Neural Syst Rehabil Eng. 2002 Sep;10(3):149-57. doi: 10.1109/TNSRE.2002.802857.

    PubMed 12503779
  • Selles RW, Li X, Lin F, Chung SG, Roth EJ, Zhang LQ. Feedback-controlled and programmed stretching of the ankle plantarflexors and dorsiflexors in stroke: effects of a 4-week intervention program. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2005 Dec;86(12):2330-6. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2005.07.305.

    PubMed 16344031
  • Ren Y, Wu YN, Yang CY, Xu T, Harvey RL, Zhang LQ. Developing a Wearable Ankle Rehabilitation Robotic Device for in-Bed Acute Stroke Rehabilitation. IEEE Trans Neural Syst Rehabil Eng. 2017 Jun;25(6):589-596. doi: 10.1109/TNSRE.2016.2584003. Epub 2016 Jun 22.

    PubMed 27337720
  • Embrey DG, Holtz SL, Alon G, Brandsma BA, McCoy SW. Functional electrical stimulation to dorsiflexors and plantar flexors during gait to improve walking in adults with chronic hemiplegia. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2010 May;91(5):687-96. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2009.12.024.

    PubMed 20434604

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 1/2 study testing Ankle robot training group and Ankle robot training and functional electrical stimulation(FES) group in people with Stroke, run by University of Maryland, Baltimore at 1 site in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 6 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 18 Dec 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

What does this combined phase mean?

Phase 1 studies test a treatment in a small group of people for the first time or in a new way, mainly to check safety and find the right dose.

Phase 2 studies give the treatment to a larger group to see whether it has the intended effect and to keep checking safety.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

Contact Li-qun Zhang, PhD (410 706 2145, L-Zhang@som.umaryland.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Fugl-Meyer Lower Extremity (time frame: Baseline). The study lists 15 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT04550728, which also lists 4 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 18 Dec 2025.

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