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StrokeNCT07698639

Anti-Gravity Treadmill and Electromagnetic Stimulation in Stroke Rehabilitation

A study testing Anti-Gravity Treadmill, High-Intensity Electromagnetic Stimulation and Standard Rehabilitation in people with Stroke and Muscle Spasticity, run by BTL Industries Ltd. at 1 site in Russia.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if adding new technologies to standard therapy helps people recover after a stroke. It looks at adults aged 18 to 74 who recently had a stroke and need help with moving and walking. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
Conditions the study is for
Stroke, Muscle Spasticity, Stroke Rehabilitation
What is being tested?
Anti-Gravity Treadmill, High-Intensity Electromagnetic Stimulation and Standard Rehabilitation
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
105 participants
Where
1 siteRussia
Study dates
15 Jan 2026to 31 May 2026
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

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 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • verified diagnosis of ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke according to neuroimaging data (computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging;
  • age 18;
  • Rankin Scale score of 3-4 upon admission;
  • ability to obtain informed consent.

Who cannot join

  • rapidly progressive neurological deficit, unstable cardiovascular or respiratory system condition, contraindications to physical exercise.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Russia1 site
  • Samara City Clinical Hospital No. 2

    Samara, Samara Oblast, 443008

Other trials in Russia

About this study

Official title: Efficacy of Post-Stroke Rehabilitation Using an Anti-Gravity Treadmill and High-Intensity Electromagnetic Stimulation: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if adding new technologies to standard therapy helps people recover after a stroke. It looks at adults aged 18 to 74 who recently had a stroke and need help with moving and walking.

The main questions the study aims to answer are:

Read more

Does adding anti-gravity treadmill training to standard physical therapy improve balance and walking ability? Does adding high-intensity electromagnetic therapy to the treadmill program further help lower muscle stiffness and improve movement? Are these combined exercise treatments safe for the participants?

Researchers will compare three groups of participants to see which combination works best:

Group 1 receives standard physical therapy and anti-gravity treadmill training. Group 2 receives standard physical therapy, anti-gravity treadmill training, and electromagnetic therapy.

Group 3 receives standard physical therapy only.

Participants will:

Complete standard physical and daily living therapy for three to four hours a day, five days a week.

Exercise on a special treadmill that uses air pressure to support their body weight (Groups 1 and 2 only).

Receive a 15-minute electromagnetic stimulation treatment on their leg muscles 10 times over two weeks (Group 2 only).

Take movement, balance, and walking tests at the start and at the end of the two-week program.

Read the detailed description

Background and Rationale Stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability and death worldwide. Many people who survive a stroke experience severe weakness in their limbs (62%) and difficulties with balance or walking (46%). Starting intensive, multi-disciplinary rehabilitation early is crucial to help patients maximize their recovery and regain independence. Traditional treadmill training is a powerful tool to restore walking ability, but it is often unsafe or impossible for patients who have lost significant muscle strength in their legs. This study evaluates a comprehensive rehabilitation program designed to overcome these limitations by combining two modern physical therapy technologies: an anti-gravity treadmill and high-intensity electromagnetic stimulation (HIES).

The Technologies Being Tested The Anti-Gravity Treadmill (BTL's R-FORCE): This device uses a sealed chamber with positive air pressure to gently lift the participant, supporting up to 100% of their body weight. This allows individuals to practice walking very early in their recovery without overloading weak muscles or risking a fall.

HIES (BTL-6000 Super Inductive System): This technology sends pulsed electromagnetic fields deep into neuromuscular tissues. It is used to safely lower muscle stiffness (spasticity) and improve general joint movement. While both tools are expanding in clinical use individually, this trial directly examines if integrating them into a single protocol provides a superior cumulative benefit for walking recovery and spasticity reduction.

Study Design and Participant Groups

This prospective, randomized, comparative clinical trial included 105 participants hospitalized in the acute or early recovery phase of a stroke at Samara City Clinical Hospital. All participants presented with a baseline modified Rankin Scale score of 3 to 4, indicating moderate to severe disability requiring daily assistance. Participants were randomly allocated in an equal 1:1:1 ratio into one of three parallel groups (35 individuals per group):

Group 1 (Treadmill Group): Participants received standard inpatient rehabilitation combined with specialized anti-gravity treadmill training.

Group 2 (Combined Technology Group): Participants received standard inpatient rehabilitation, anti-gravity treadmill training, and HIES.

Group 3 (Control Group): Participants received the standard inpatient rehabilitation protocol only.

What Participation Involved All three groups underwent a highly active 14-day rehabilitation program. Every participant completed approximately 3 to 4 hours of standard multidisciplinary therapy per day, 5 days a week, which included physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy as needed.

Participants in Groups 1 and 2 added tailored walking sessions on the anti-gravity treadmill to their daily routine.

Participants in Group 2 additionally received 10 sessions of HIES (5 times per week for 15 minutes per session) targeting the lower back spine and the spastic leg muscles.

Clinical and functional assessments were performed for all participants at the time of admission and again at discharge (Day 14). To ensure objective tracking, the assessments were conducted by independent medical experts who were strictly blinded to which treatment group the participants belonged to. The trial carefully monitored changes in overall neurological health, balance, walking ability, muscle stiffness, and general functional independence in daily activities.

Being tested
Anti-Gravity Treadmill, High-Intensity Electromagnetic Stimulation, Standard Rehabilitation
Keywords
post-stroke rehabilitation, anti-gravity treadmill, functional recovery, high-intensity electromagnetic stimulation
Medical subject headings
Stroke, Muscle Spasticity

What participants receive

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

  • Anti-Gravity TreadmillDevice

    Also called BTL R-FORCE

    A treadmill system that enables walking training with partial body weight support (up to 100%) by creating positive pressure in a sealed chamber housing the participant. This technology makes it possible to begin restorative walking training as early as possible after a stroke, without the risk of overloading weakened muscle groups or causing falls.

  • High-Intensity Electromagnetic StimulationDevice

    Also called Repetitive Peripheral Magnetic Stimulation, BTL-6000 Super Inductive System

    A therapeutic device utilizing high-intensity pulsed electromagnetic fields that can penetrate deep-seated tissues to produce an antispastic effect. The treatment is applied directly to the spastic leg muscles and their antagonists to reduce muscle tone and support motor recovery.

  • Standard RehabilitationProcedure or surgery

    Rehabilitation consisting of daily physical therapy (limb movement training, balance, and walking exercises), occupational therapy, speech therapy as indicated, and neuropsychological sessions.

Study groups in NCT07698639
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Experimental Arm 1: Standard rehabilitation + Anti-gravity treadmillExperimentalParticipants in this arm receive standard rehabilitation combined with specialized anti-gravity treadmill training. Standard Rehabilitation: This protocol consists of daily physical therapy (focusing on limb movement training, balance, and walking exercises), occupational therapy, speech therapy as indicated, and neuropsychological sessions. Anti-Gravity Treadmill Training: Participants undergo walking training with partial body weight support. The total combined training amounts to approximately 3 to 4 hours per day, 5 days a week, over a 14-day early rehabilitation period.
Receives: Device: Anti-Gravity Treadmill; Procedure: Standard Rehabilitation
Experimental Arm 2: Standard rehabilitation + Anti-gravity treadmill + HIESExperimentalParticipants in this arm receive standard rehabilitation combined with specialized anti-gravity treadmill training and high-intensity electromagnetic stimulation (HIES). Standard Rehabilitation: This protocol consists of daily physical therapy (focusing on limb movement training, balance, and walking exercises), occupational therapy, speech therapy as indicated, and neuropsychological sessions. Anti-Gravity Treadmill Training: Participants undergo walking training with partial body weight support.. HIES: Participants receive 10 sessions of HIES delivered 5 times per week (15 minutes per session). The treatment directly targets the spastic leg muscles and their antagonists, including the quadriceps femoris, calf muscles, and the lumbar spine nerve projection zone. The total training amounts to approximately 3 to 4 hours per day, 5 days a week, over a 14-day early rehabilitation period.
Receives: Device: Anti-Gravity Treadmill; Device: High-Intensity Electromagnetic Stimulation; Procedure: Standard Rehabilitation
Control Arm 3: Standard rehabilitation onlyActive comparatorParticipants in this arm receive the standard rehabilitation protocol only. Standard Inpatient Rehabilitation: This protocol follows the current institutional standard care and includes scheduled physical therapy (focusing on limb movement training, balance, and walking exercises), occupational therapy, speech therapy as indicated, and neuropsychological sessions. The total training amounts to approximately 3 to 4 hours per day, 5 days a week, over a 14-day early rehabilitation period.
Receives: Procedure: Standard Rehabilitation

What is being measured

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

  1. Change from Baseline in Rivermead Mobility Index (RMI)

    The RMI assesses functional mobility (gait, balance, and transfers). The score ranges from 0 to 15, where higher scores indicate better mobility.

    Measured: Baseline (admission) and Day 14 (discharge)

  2. Change from Baseline in National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score

    The NIHSS is used to measure the severity of neurological deficits. The score ranges from 0 to 42, where higher scores indicate a worse neurological status.

    Measured: Baseline (admission) and Day 14 (discharge)

  3. Change from Baseline in Functional Independence Measure (FIM)

    The FIM assesses the level of a patient's physical and cognitive disability and their functional independence in daily activities. The score ranges from 18 to 126, where higher scores indicate greater functional independence.

    Measured: Baseline (admission) and Day 14 (discharge)

  4. Change from Baseline in Berg Balance Scale (BBS)

    The BBS is used to objectively determine a patient's ability to safely balance during a series of predetermined tasks. The score ranges from 0 to 56, where higher scores indicate better balance.

    Measured: Baseline (admission) and Day 14 (discharge)

Secondary outcomes (4)
  1. Change from Baseline in modified Rankin Scale (mRS)

    The mRS is used to measure the degree of disability or dependence in the daily activities of people who have suffered a stroke. The score ranges from 0 to 6, where lower scores indicate less disability.

    Measured: Baseline (admission) and Day 14 (discharge)

  2. Change from Baseline in Rehabilitation Routing Scale (SRM)

    The SRM assesses disability and determines the appropriate rehabilitation pathway or setting. The score ranges from 0 to 6, where lower scores indicate clinical improvement (reduction in burden).

    Measured: Baseline (admission) and Day 14 (discharge)

  3. Change from Baseline in modified Ashworth Scale (mAS)

    The mAS is used to assess the muscle tone and measure the increase in muscle spasticity. The score ranges from 0 to 4, where lower scores indicate a reduction in spasticity.

    Measured: Baseline (admission) and Day 14 (discharge)

  4. Change from Baseline in Hauser Ambulation Index (HAI)

    The HAI is a rating scale used to evaluate mobility and walking ability, focusing on the time and degree of assistance required. The score ranges from 0 to 9, where higher scores indicate worse walking status.

    Measured: Baseline (admission) and Day 14 (discharge)

Timeline

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

  1. First posted13 Jul 2026
  2. Study start15 Jan 2026
  3. Primary completion31 May 2026
  4. Study completion31 May 2026

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 N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Single blind
Who is masked
Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
105 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT07698639
Sponsor's protocol ID
Protocol No. 256
Status last verified
Oct 2026
First submitted
7 Jul 2026
Last updated
13 Oct 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Yes: Anonymized individual participant data will be shared as supporting information files directly with the journal publication.

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Anti-Gravity Treadmill, High-Intensity Electromagnetic Stimulation and Standard Rehabilitation in people with Stroke and Muscle Spasticity, run by BTL Industries Ltd. at 1 site in Russia.

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 1 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: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 13 Oct 2026. 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 Russia. 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.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

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

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Change from Baseline in Rivermead Mobility Index (RMI) (time frame: Baseline (admission) and Day 14 (discharge)). The study lists 4 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
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 13 Oct 2026.

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