Could a simple ear device ease chronic pain in cerebral palsy?

NCT ID NCT07585292

What the study statuses mean

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Recruitment status, easiest to join first

Recruiting now
This trial is taking on new participants right now.
Not yet recruiting This study
Registered, but not yet taking participants.
By invitation only
Not open to general applications. Only people the study team invites can take part.
Paused
Paused for now. It may or may not start again.
Ongoing
Running, but no longer taking on new participants.
Completed
The trial has finished. Results may not be published yet.
Stopped early
Stopped early, before it reached the end. That can be for many reasons, including safety.
Cancelled
Cancelled before anyone took part.

Expanded access (not trials)

Expanded access
Not a trial. This treatment can be requested outside a study, case by case, for people who qualify.
Expanded access (paused)
Not a trial. The treatment can normally be requested outside a study, but is unavailable right now.
Expanded access (ended)
Not a trial. The treatment could once be requested outside a study, but no longer can.
Approved
The treatment has been approved, so it is available normally rather than through this programme.

When the status isn't known

Details not published
The full record has not been published yet, so there is little to show here.
Status unknown
This status has not been confirmed recently, so it may be out of date.

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study tests whether a device that gently stimulates a nerve in the ear (taVNS) can safely reduce chronic musculoskeletal pain in adults with cerebral palsy. Thirty-two participants will use either the active device or a sham (inactive) version at home for 30 days. Researchers will measure changes in pain, quality of life, and side effects.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance
transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) device
What this could lead to
If it works, this could offer a safe, non-drug way to reduce chronic pain and improve quality of life for adults with cerebral palsy.
What could go wrong
This is a small, early-stage trial with only 32 participants. The sham control may also show effects, and results may not apply to everyone with cerebral palsy.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Study facts

What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.

Phase

Not a phased trial

Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.

Participants

About 32 people

The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.

Expected to start

Oct 2026

An estimate. Start dates often move.

Expected to finish

May 2029

An estimate. End dates often move.

Lead sponsor

Other sponsor

The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.

Who can take part

This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.

Ages

18 years and older

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

Not accepted

This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.

Show the full entry requirements

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * Diagnosis of cerebral palsy * Age ≥18 years * Chronic musculoskeletal pain present for ≥1 year * Moderate or greater pain severity (≥4/10 on Numeric Pain Rating Scale) * Stable pain and/or anti-inflammatory medication dosing for ≥6 weeks Exclusion Criteria: * Cardiovascular disease * Pacemaker or implanted electrical device * Cerebral shunt * Pregnancy or intent to become pregnant * Current infection or open wounds at electrode sites

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

cerebral palsy Musculoskeletal Pain

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

How to take part

Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.

  1. The places running it

    1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.

  2. The official record

    ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.

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  3. A doctor treating you

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Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Parkwood Institute, St Joseph's Health Care London

    London, Ontario, N6C 0A7, Canada

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