Pilot Study Exploring the Effects of Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation on Gait in People With Motor Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury

Recruiting now · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Spinal Cord Injury

In brief

This pilot study aims to evaluate the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a wearable rhythmic auditory stimulation system, MedRhythms, for improving gait parameters in patients with motor incomplete SCI. Up to 15 participants aged 18 years or older with non-progressive SCI will be enrolled. Participants will complete supervised gait training using the MedRhythms device twice weekly during regularly scheduled physical therapy sessions over a six-week period. The device uses shoe-mounted sensors and headphones to deliver real-time individualized rhythmic auditory cues based on the user's gait pattern. Primary outcome measures include change in walking speed assessed with the 10-Meter Walk Test. Secondary outcomes include walking endurance measured by the 6-Minute Walk Test, gait parameters obtained through GAITRite analysis, and participant-reported outcomes including the Walking Index for Spinal Cord Injury II (WISCI II) and the SCI Quality of Life Satisfaction with Social Roles and Activities measure. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline, post-intervention (6 weeks), and follow-up (12 weeks). Findings from this study will provide preliminary data on the feasibility and potential clinical impact of rhythmic auditory stimulation as an adjunctive gait rehabilitation strategy for individuals with incomplete SCI.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT07674927

Run by

University of California, Davis

People needed

15

Starts

2026-06-01

Expected to finish

2026-12-31

Last updated by the study team

2026-06-30

Who can join

Age: 18 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Age ≥18 years old
• Language: English or Spanish only
• Diagnosis: non-progressive spinal cord lesion; classification as either grade C, D, or E SCI based on American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale (AIS)
• Able to ambulate at least a contact guard assist level
• Time post injury: ≥6 months
• Cadence: minimum 40 steps/minute with clear heel strike
• Able to consent

You may not qualify if…

• Individuals who use an assistive device and are unable to achieve a 2-point walking pattern (left-right-left-right) with an assistive device
• Walks exclusively with a 3-point walking pattern with an assistive device
• Ambulation requiring a knee-ankle-foot orthosis (KAFO)
• Presence of additional neurological or medical processes that contribute to weakness
• Unable to perceive music through the MedRhythyms device

Where it is running

• UC Davis Point West — Sacramento, California, United States (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

Trial information comes from ClinicalTrials.gov and is refreshed daily. TrialsForMe does not provide medical care and does not run the studies it lists.