# Locomotor Recovery and Compensation Post-stroke

> **NIH NIH R01** · INDIANA UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS · 2021 · $394,025

## Abstract

Project Summary
The objective of this project is to identify the trajectory of neurological and locomotor recovery in patients early
post-stroke and the biomechanical strategies used by patients to accomplish independent locomotion. These
patterns of recovery and underlying movement strategies used to accomplish independent ambulation will be
assessed during both conventional rehabilitation strategies, and following application of physical interventions,
specifically high intensity training (HIT) of stepping tasks, that have been shown to strongly influence multiple
measures of neurological and locomotor recovery. Our previous work suggests consistent relationships
between the amount of intensity of stepping practice and locomotor recovery (walking gains) following training.
However, these findings contrast directly with research that indicates a relative consistent pattern of
neurological recovery (measured using specific assessments of movement capability, fractionation of individual
joints, or reflex activity), irrespective of the types of interventions provided. These discrepancies may be due to
differences in definitions utilized for neurological vs locomotor recovery, but also highlight the potential use of
alternative movement patterns post-stroke, during which full restitution of neurological function may not occur
in most patients. Rather, compensatory movement strategies must be utilized to accomplish locomotor tasks.
The present project will attempt to delineate changes in neurological and locomotor recovery and the
underlying strategies used to perform walking tasks (Aim 1). We will subsequently evaluate alterations in
specific patterns of neurological and functional recovery in response HIT applied in the later stages post-stroke
to ascertain the relative plasticity of these patterns (Aim 2). In a separate cohort, we will apply such training
early post-stroke and identify alterations in movement capability and neuromuscular strategies through the
recovery phases post-stroke (Aim 3). If neurological recovery is indeed predictable and deterministic, we
believe patterns of locomotor recovery and compensation are also deterministic and can be categorized by the
amount of movement capability and compensations observed. We further postulate that these patterns are
likely malleable with specific interventions and can provide greater insight into long-term functional and
neuromuscular outcomes in patients early post-stroke.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10211230
- **Project number:** 1R01NS118009-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** INDIANA UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS
- **Principal Investigator:** Thomas George Hornby
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $394,025
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-02-15 → 2026-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10211230

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10211230, Locomotor Recovery and Compensation Post-stroke (1R01NS118009-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-28 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10211230. Licensed CC0.

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