Split-Belt Gait Retraining in Subacute Stroke

May 15, 2026 updated by: Courtney Pollock, University of British Columbia

Physiotherapist-Led Split-Belt Treadmill Gait Retraining for Individuals With Subacute Stroke: A Randomized Controlled Trial

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.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

30

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • Canada
    • British Columbia
      • Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V5Z 2G9

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • unilateral stroke resulting in hemiparesis
  • less than 9 months post-stroke
  • ability to walk ten metres with or without walking aids
  • ability to stand without support for five minutes
  • English speaking

Exclusion Criteria:

  • medically unfit to participate e.g. cardiac or respiratory disease limiting ability to perform walking tasks
  • neuromuscular impairment, other than stroke, limiting mobility, e.g. ankle sprain, joint disease such as severe arthritis
  • cognitive/communication impairment impacting ability to follow instructions
  • diagnosis of clinical depression or anxiety disorders requiring medication

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Split-belt treadmill training
Participants will complete 12 gait training sessions over 4 weeks (3 sessions/week) on an instrumented split-belt treadmill involving both split-belt and tied-belt walking conditions. A physiotherapist will provide gait retraining during each training session.
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.
No Intervention: Traditional treadmill training
Participants will complete 12 gait training sessions over 4 weeks (3 sessions/week) on an instrumented treadmill under tied-belt walking conditions only. A physiotherapist will provide gait retraining during each training session.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Step length symmetry
Time Frame: Baseline, immediately post-intervention, and at 1-month follow-up
Baseline, immediately post-intervention, and at 1-month follow-up
Self-selected gait speeds
Time Frame: Baseline, immediately post-intervention, and at 1-month follow-up
Self-selected gait speeds at both comfortable and fast speed will be measured by overground 10 meter walk tests
Baseline, immediately post-intervention, and at 1-month follow-up

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

University of British Columbia

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

June 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

January 1, 2029

Study Completion (Estimated)

July 1, 2029

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

May 15, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 15, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

May 22, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

May 22, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 15, 2026

Last Verified

May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • H21-02171

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

IPD that underlie results in a publication will be shared.

IPD Sharing Time Frame

Beginning 3 months and ending 3 years after the publication of results

IPD Sharing Access Criteria

The PI will accept a proposal that describes planned analyses and assess the need for a data sharing agreement.

IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type

  • STUDY_PROTOCOL

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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