An interventional study of Robot Therapy in HIV/AIDS and Stroke, sponsored by University of Pennsylvania. Active, not recruiting at 2 sites in 2 countries. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 90 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-08-10.
Sponsored by University of Pennsylvania · Not applicable, Interventional, and Other
Today, nearly 37 million people are living with HIV (PLHIV) worldwide and 30 to 40% of them will have neurologic complications leading to disability. Our long-term working hypothesis is that an effective solution for increasing rehabilitation access in Botswana and improving functional outcomes of PLHIV having experienced a stroke with or without HIV uses an affordable robot and mobile health technologies to create a cost-effective intervention strategy. For this project, we test the feasibility of affordable robot therapy.
We will test the feasibility of affordable robot therapy in three Aims. In Aim 1, we will optimize for the Botswana context, an affordable technology-based robot system with four exercise stations. We will optimize a prototype of our provisionally patented robot gym system, REHAB CARES, for therapy. Optimization will include increasing cost-effectiveness, utilizing more local resources and manufacturing, and using mobile health android platforms for games and data acquisition. In Aim 2, the efficiency of the newly modified robot system compared to standard of care will be assessed using 30 patients who have experienced a stroke, with or without HIV, will be recruited from those who are being treated by Princess Marina Hospital (PMH) and living in the surrounding community. They will receive therapy using the robot gym system and receive standard of care. We will assess functional outcomes including motor impairment, function, and quality of life. The study outcomes would then inform rehabilitation practices for PLHIV with stroke, with or without HIV, and suggest that affordable technology-mediated rehabilitation can reduce their motor dysfunction and resulting long-term disability.
3,035 studies on the registry are indexed under Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; 306 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 30 is below the median of 96 across 2,251 interventional studies indexed under Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome.
Browse Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome studies →University of Pennsylvania is the lead sponsor of 1,668 studies on the registry; 235 are open to participants now.
Of its 158 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 109 (69%) have results posted.
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Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Exclusion Criteria:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
The human immunodeficiency virus, which weakens the immune system.
Many studies now accept people whose HIV is controlled on treatment, judged by the viral load and the CD4 count. Check the limits this study sets.
HIV
The human immunodeficiency virus, which weakens the immune system.
Many studies now accept people whose HIV is controlled on treatment, judged by the viral load and the CD4 count. Check the limits this study sets.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Low-to-mid functioning HIV/AIDS patients greater than 18 years of age with stroke co-morbidity.
Other: Robot Therapy
Stroke survivors greater than 18 years of age with hemiplegia with and without HIV/AIDS.
Other: Robot Therapy
Robot Therapy
Modified IBM Usability Satisfaction Questionnaire
Assess usability of the robot system with patients and therapists
Time frame: At 8 Weeks
Change in Baseline assessment of motor impairment
The Fugl-Meyer measure of motor impairment in the upper limb. Max is 66. Min 0; higher is better. up to 30 minutes to complete
Time frame: At week 8
Rehabilitation Capacity Questionnaire
Survey for all therapists and rehab professionals - up to 1 hour; interview
Time frame: At 0 week
Change from baseline assessment of Timed up and go
Timed up and go - Measure gait capacity. Measured is minutes. Longer times indicate higher impairment.
Time frame: at 8 weeks
Change from baseline assessment of 10 Meter Walk Test
Measure gait distance capacity. Measured in meters. Longer distance means lower impairment.
Time frame: at 8 weeks
Change from baseline assessment of # of blocks that can be grasped and moved
Box and Block Test is a reach and grasp test - gross motor function. Measured in # of blocks. Higher number of blocks means lower impairment.
Time frame: at 8 weeks
Change from baseline assessment of fine motor grasp
Grooved Peg-Board Test is measure of fine motor grasp. Measured in times and number of pins placed. More pins placed means lower impairment.
Time frame: at 8 weeks
Change from baseline assessment of stroke impact scale
quality of life questionnaire; self-reported. The Stroke Impact Scale (SIS) assesses other dimensions of health related quality of life: emotion, communication, memory and thinking, and social role function. Higher scores means less impaired. Lower score is more impaired.
Time frame: at 8 weeks
This study is active, not recruiting, as verified in Aug 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome →