evergait™ Go: Stroke Gait Rehabilitation Research

evergait™ Go is a portable, passive gait rehabilitation technology developed at the University of South Florida REED Lab. It brings principles of split-belt treadmill gait adaptation to overground walking. The technology has been clinically evaluated in people with chronic stroke in clinic, home, and telehealth settings, with published studies reporting improvements in gait speed, gait symmetry, balance, and functional mobility.

The technology is being commercialized by evergait, LLC, a University of South Florida spinout that exclusively licenses the technology from USF. This REED Lab page documents the research, engineering, publications, and history underlying evergait™ Go. For current product information, availability, clinical inquiries, and commercialization updates, please visit the official evergait website at evergait.com.

Background

Effective gait rehabilitation requires precise coordination between the legs, a capability often impaired in individuals with central nervous system lesions, such as those caused by stroke. Traditional rehabilitation methods, like the split-belt treadmill, have been shown to correct walking asymmetries by moving the legs at different speeds. However, these methods have significant limitations. The primary issue is the limited transfer of learned walking patterns to over-ground walking, a crucial aspect of daily mobility. Additionally, split-belt treadmills require a controlled, stationary environment, which restricts the ability for individuals to practice walking in their natural, everyday settings. Walking on a treadmill provides a static visual flow, which differs significantly from the dynamic visual experience of over-ground walking. This discrepancy creates a sensory conflict that can hinder the effective transfer of training from the treadmill to real-world walking scenarios. Addressing this challenge requires a solution that not only corrects gait asymmetry but also allows for practice in real-world environments, ensuring better retention and transfer of improved walking patterns.

What is evergait™ Go and how does it work?

The evergait™ Go is designed to bring the principles of split-belt treadmill gait adaptation to overground walking without requiring a treadmill. Four kinetic-shape wheels worn on the unaffected side move the foot backward during stance, creating a repeatable gait perturbation while the user walks over ground.

The evergait™ Go is engineered to alter interlimb coordination without the need for external power. Its mechanical design converts the wearer's downward and horizontal forces into a controlled backward motion of the foot. The device is lightweight and mobile, allowing gait training to move beyond stationary rehabilitation equipment and into overground environments.

Motion sensors, app, and remote monitoring

The commercial evergait™ Go system uses wearable motion sensors and a connected app. The sensors record steps and walking-pattern data during sessions so that the patient's rehabilitation therapist can review treatment activity and progress remotely. For the current description of the sensor and software system, visit evergait.com.

Example From a Stroke Gait Rehabilitation Study

This is one participant from our study. Before treatment, the participant was several years post-stroke and had completed traditional rehabilitation. He then completed 12 sessions of walking on the evergait™ Go for 30 minutes per session. We followed up with the participant at several timepoints over the year after treatment ended. The video shows his gait before treatment and at follow-up timepoints after treatment, illustrating the changes observed in this participant and their persistence over time.

Published Clinical Research on Stroke Gait Rehabilitation

The technology now known as evergait™ Go has been clinically evaluated in multiple peer-reviewed studies with people with chronic stroke. The same gait rehabilitation technology was previously studied and commercialized under earlier names, including the Gait Enhancing Mobile Shoe (GEMS) and iStride™. These studies have examined gait speed, gait symmetry, balance, functional mobility, home-based rehabilitation, telehealth delivery, and retention of improvements for up to one year after treatment. Earlier studies used previous names and implementations of the same technology, including the Gait Enhancing Mobile Shoe (GEMS) and iStride™.

Across the published clinical studies, participants completed a relatively short gait rehabilitation program, typically 12 walking sessions over four weeks. The studies reported improvements in walking and functional outcomes, including results that persisted months after the treatment sessions ended.

Long-Term Gait Speed Improvements

In a longitudinal study of 18 people with chronic stroke who completed 12 home-based treatment sessions, average gait speed remained more than 0.21 m/s above baseline at every follow-up through 12 months after treatment. Seventeen of the 18 participants (94%) improved their gait speed beyond the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) at one or more follow-up assessments. The study reported that the improvement in gait speed was retained through the one-year follow-up.

Balance and Functional Mobility Improvements

Follow-up analysis of the same 18 participants found that improvements in balance and functional mobility remained statistically significant at every follow-up through 12 months. At the one-year follow-up, average changes included a 5.9-point improvement on the Berg Balance Scale, a 4.9-second reduction in Timed Up and Go, and a 3.8-point improvement on the Functional Gait Assessment.

Home-Based Stroke Gait Rehabilitation

An earlier study evaluated the technology with 21 people with chronic stroke completing 12 treatment sessions primarily in their homes. The study found statistically significant improvement on all five measured gait and functional outcomes one week after treatment. Fifteen of 21 participants (71%) improved gait speed beyond the minimal clinically important difference. By the end of the third week, 81% of participants were able to perform the treatment without assistance, supporting the feasibility of using the technology for home-based gait rehabilitation.

Clinic and Telehealth Studies

The initial clinic feasibility study included six people more than one year after stroke. After 12 treatment sessions, all six participants improved step-length symmetry as well as gait velocity, Timed Up and Go, and 6-Minute Walk Test performance. A subsequent telehealth feasibility study demonstrated that treatment could also be delivered remotely with caregiver support; participants completed 95% of prescribed treatment sessions, with no serious adverse events reported.

Overall research evidence: Across clinic, home, and telehealth settings, published studies of the technology now known as evergait™ Go have consistently reported improvements in walking and functional outcomes in people with chronic stroke, including improvements retained for up to one year in longitudinal follow-up.

Key Features and Research Advantages

• Overground Gait Adaptation: The evergait™ Go brings principles of split-belt gait adaptation to walking over ordinary ground, allowing the mechanical perturbation to be experienced in an overground environment rather than on stationary treadmill equipment.
• Mechanical, Power-Free Design: The evergait™ Go requires no external power source. It mechanically harnesses the wearer's own forces to generate the necessary motion, making it a lightweight and user-friendly option for gait rehabilitation.
• Home-Based Rehabilitation: By enabling use outside the clinic, the evergait™ Go allows walking practice to continue in the home environment rather than being limited to clinic-based equipment.
• Portable Overground Rehabilitation: Unlike stationary treadmill-based approaches, the device allows gait-adaptation training while walking over ground and has been studied in both clinic and home environments.
• Controlled Mechanical Motion: The device incorporates rotary dampers to provide smooth, controlled backward foot motion during stance.

Summary

The evergait™ Go is a portable, passive gait rehabilitation device designed to bring gait-adaptation training from specialized equipment into overground walking. Research at the USF REED Lab has evaluated earlier versions of the technology in clinic, home, and telehealth settings after stroke, including long-term follow-up studies. The commercial evergait™ Go system is being developed for clinic setup followed by continued rehabilitation at home, with wearable sensors and connected software intended to allow therapists to review treatment activity and walking data remotely.

Research on the technology began at the REED Lab at the University of South Florida in 2009. Earlier versions were known as the Gait Enhancing Mobile Shoe (GEMS) and later the iStride™ Device. evergait, LLC was formed in 2025 to commercialize the next generation of the technology as evergait™ Go under an exclusive license from the University of South Florida.

Current product and commercialization information: The official source for availability, clinical inquiries, regulatory status, and the commercial evergait™ Go system is www.evergait.com.

Recognition

• 2026 Tampa Bay Inno Awards: Healthtech Honoree
• 2026 Tampa Bay Tech Awards: Finalist, Emerging Tech Company of the Year

Current company news and recognition are maintained at evergait.com.

Research and commercial status

The research described on this page includes earlier versions of the technology and was conducted in research settings. evergait™ Go is not yet available for sale. In a September 3, 2026 response to a Section 513(g) request, FDA advised that evergait™ Go falls within 21 CFR 890.5360, Measuring Exercise Equipment, a Class II device type exempt from 510(k) premarket notification, subject to applicable limitations. A 513(g) response is not FDA clearance or approval. For current regulatory and commercialization status, see evergait.com.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is evergait™ Go?
evergait™ Go is a portable, passive gait rehabilitation device developed from research at the University of South Florida REED Lab. It is designed to bring principles of split-belt treadmill gait adaptation to overground walking.

How does evergait™ Go work?
Four kinetic-shape wheels worn on the unaffected side move the foot backward during stance, creating a controlled gait perturbation while the user walks over ground. The device is mechanical and does not require external power.

Who developed evergait™ Go?
The technology originated at the REED Lab at the University of South Florida. Research began in 2009, and evergait, LLC was formed in 2025 to commercialize the next generation of the technology under an exclusive license from USF.

What is the relationship between GEMS, iStride™, and evergait™ Go?
GEMS (Gait Enhancing Mobile Shoe) was the original research name for the technology. Earlier clinical studies evaluated versions later known as the iStride™ Device. evergait™ Go is the next generation being commercialized by evergait, LLC.

What have clinical studies of the evergait™ technology found?
Published studies of earlier versions of the technology in people with chronic stroke have reported improvements in gait speed, gait symmetry, balance, and functional mobility. In an 18-participant longitudinal study, average gait-speed improvement exceeded 0.21 m/s at every follow-up through 12 months, and 17 of 18 participants improved beyond the gait-speed minimal clinically important difference at one or more follow-ups.

Has evergait™ Go itself been clinically studied?
The technology has been evaluated in multiple published studies with stroke survivors, including earlier versions known as GEMS and the iStride™ Device.

Where can patients, rehabilitation clinics, and others learn more about evergait™ Go?
For current product information, availability, clinical inquiries, and commercialization updates, visit the official evergait website at evergait.com.

evergait Go, GEMS, and iStride Research Publications

1. B. Darcy, L. Rashford, D. Huizenga, K.B. Reed, and S.J.M. Bamberg, "Balance Improvement and Fall Risk Reduction in Stroke Survivors After Treatment With a Wearable Home-Use Gait Device: Single-Arm Longitudinal Study With 1-Year Follow-Up," JMIR Formative Research, vol. 9, 2025.
   [ JMIR ]
2. B. Darcy, L. Rashford, N.T. Tsai, D. Huizenga, K.B. Reed, and S.J.M. Bamberg, "One-year retention of gait speed improvement in stroke survivors after treatment with a wearable home-use gait device," Frontiers in Neurology, vol. 14, 2024. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1089083
   [ frontiers ]
3. B. Darcy, L. Rashford, S. T. Shultz, N. T. Tsai, D. Huizenga, K. B. Reed, and S. J. Bamberg, "Gait device treatment using telehealth for individuals with stroke during the covid-19 pandemic: Nonrandomized pilot feasibility study," JMIR Formative Research, vol. 7, no. 1, p. e43008, 2023.
   [ JMIR ]
4. D. Huizenga, L. Rashford, B. Darcy, E. Lundin, R. Medas, S. T. Shultz, E. DuBose, and K. B. Reed, "Wearable gait device for stroke gait rehabilitation at home," Topics in Stroke Rehabilitation, online December 2020, issue 2021.
   [ Taylor & Francis Online ]
5. D. Huizenga, B. Darcy, L. Rashford, E. Lundin, R. Medas, S. T. Shultz, E. DuBose, and K. B. Reed, "Home Use Gait Device for Stroke Hemiparesis: Long-Term Follow-Up Results," Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, vol. 101, no. 11, p. e68, 2020.
   [ Archives PM&R ]
6. B. Darcy, L. Rashford, E. Lundin, R. Medas, T. Shultz, E. DuBose, D. Huizenga, K. B. Reed. "Active Limb Orthosis for Home Use-Stroke Gait Rehabilitation", Combined Sections Meeting (CSM), APTA, February 2020.
   [ APTA ]
7. B. Darcy, L. Rashford, E. Lundin, R. Medas, T. Shultz, E. DuBose, D. Huizenga, K. B. Reed. "The Relationship Between Gait Speed and Self-Reported Quality of Life in Stroke Survivors After Treatment With a Therapeutic Gait Device", Stroke, February 2020.
   [ Stroke ]
8. L. Rashford, B. Darcy, E. Lundin, R. Medas, T. Shultz, E. DuBose, D. Huizenga, K. B. Reed. "Active Limb Orthosis for Home Use - Stroke Gait Rehabilitation", American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine (ACRM), November 2019.
   [ ACRM ]
9. S. Kim, D. Huizenga, I. Handzic, R. Ditwiler, M. Lazinski, T. Ramakrishnan, A. Bozeman, D. Rose, K. B. Reed. "Relearning functional and symmetric walking after stroke using a wearable device: a feasibility study," Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation, Volume 16, 2019.
   [ Springer Nature ]
10. B. Darcy, L. Rashford, E. Lundin, E. DuBose, D. Huizenga, and K. B. Reed, "Home-Use Gait Treatment Device for Stroke Hemiparesis: A Report of Two Cases," Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, vol. 100, no. 10, p. e83, 2019.
    [ Archives PM&R ]
11. D. E. Huizenga, I. Handzic, R. Edgeworth, M. Lazinski, T. Ramakrishnan, D. Rose, S. H. Kim, and K. B. Reed, "Gait Enhancing Mobile Shoe," Gerontechnology, vol. 17, supplement, p. 95, 2018.
    [ Gerontechnology ]
12. S. H. Kim, D. Huizenga, I. Handzic, R. Edgeworth, M. Lazinski, T. Ramakrishnan, D. Rose, K. B. Reed. "Device for Improving Double Limb Support, Step Length Symmetry, and Gait Speed in Hemiparetic Patients", in Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, v. 98, issue 10, p. e52
    [ Archives PMR ]
13. S. H. Kim, I. Handzic, D. Huizenga, R. Edgeworth, M. Lazinski, T. Ramakrishnan, and K. B. Reed. "Initial Results of the Gait Enhancing Mobile Shoe on Individuals with Stroke," in Intl. Conf. of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (EMBC), Orlando, USA, 2016.
    [ EMBC ]
14. I. Handzic and K. B. Reed. "Kinetic Shapes: Analysis, Verification, and Applications," ASME Journal of Mechanical Design, Vol. 136, No. 6, pp. 061005(1-8), 2014.
    [ ASME | PubMed | preprint | abstract ]
15. I. Handzic and K. B. Reed, "Comparison of the Passive Dynamics of Walking on Ground, Tied-belt and Split-belt Treadmills, and via the Gait Enhancing Mobile Shoe," Proc. of the 13th Intl. Conf. on Rehabilitation Robotics (ICORR), Seattle, USA, June, 2013.
    [ ICORR ]
16. I. Handzic, E. Vasudevan, and K. B. Reed, "Developing a Gait Enhancing Mobile Shoe to Alter Over-Ground Walking Coordination," Proc. of IEEE Intl. Conf. on Robotics and Automation (ICRA), St. Paul, USA, May, 2012.
    [ ICRA | .mp4]
17. I. Handzic, E. Barno, E. V. Vasudevan, and K. B. Reed. "Design and Pilot Study of a Gait Enhancing Mobile Shoe," Journal of Behavioral Robotics, Special Issue on Assistive Robotics, Vol. 2, Num. 4, pp. 193-201, 2011.
    [ SpringerLink | PubMed| preprint | abstract ]
18. I. Handzic, E. Vasudevan, and K. B. Reed, "Motion Controlled Gait Enhancing Mobile Shoe for Rehabilitation," Proc. of the 12th Intl. Conf. on Rehabilitation Robotics (ICORR), Zurich, Switzerland, June, 2011.
    [ ICORR | .mp4 | PubMed ]
19. A. de Groot, R. Decker, and K. B. Reed. "Gait Enhancing Mobile Shoe for Rehabilitation," Third Joint Eurohaptics Conference and Symposium on Haptic Interfaces for Virtual Environment and Teleoperator Systems (World Haptics), Salt Lake City, USA, 2009.
    [ World Haptics | .mp4 ]

Patents and Intellectual Property

The gait rehabilitation technology now known as evergait™ Go is protected by U.S. and European patents developed through research at the University of South Florida.

• K. B. Reed and I. Handzic, "Gait-Altering Shoe," U.S. Patent 9,295,302, issued March 29, 2016, priority date February 17, 2012.
  [ U.S. Patent 9,295,302 ]
• I. Handzic and K. B. Reed, "Systems and Methods for Designing Kinetic Shapes," U.S. Patent 12,488,154, issued December 2, 2025, priority date February 12, 2014.
  [ U.S. Patent 12,488,154 ]
• "Gait-Altering Shoe," European Patent EP3104731, validated in multiple European countries.
  [ European Patent EP3104731 ]

• "USF faculty researchers turn discoveries into ventures through THRIVE"
       https://www.usf.edu/business/news/2026/05-29-faculty-thrive.aspx
• "USF-led innovations tackle cybersecurity and health challenges with early-stage funding"
       https://www.usf.edu/research-innovation/news/2026/usf-led-innovations-tackle-cybersecurity-and-health-challenges-with-early-stage-funding.aspx
• "Stroke therapy shoe invented at USF empowers patients' recovery"
       https://www.usf.edu/news/2024/stroke-therapy-shoe-invented-at-empowers-patients-recovery.aspx
       reposted at https://www.aau.edu/newsroom/stroke-therapy-shoe-invented-usf-empowers-patients
• "Stroke shoe retrains the brain, correcting gait"
       https://www.wndu.com/content/news/Stroke-shoe-retrains-the-brain-correcting-gait-506721291.html
• "Early study shows shoe attachment can help stroke patients improve their gait"
       https://medicalxpress.com/news/2017-12-early-patients-gait.html
• "Shoe offers stroke recovery revolution"
       http://www.fox13news.com/health/shoe-offers-stroke-recovery-revolution
• "Early study shows new shoe attachment can help stroke patients improve their gait"
       https://hscweb3.hsc.usf.edu/blog/2017/12/13/early-study-shows-new-shoe-attachment-can-help-stroke-patients-improve-gait/
• "Spirals inspire walking aids for people with disabilities"
       https://www.sciencenews.org/article/spirals-inspire-walking-aids-people-disabilities
• "Gait Enhancing Mobile Shoe"
       https://www.pbs.org/video/wedu-quest-209-gait-enhancing-mobile-shoe/

This work has been funded by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NIH NICHD award #R21HD066200) and the Florida High Tech Corridor.