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Can a nerve-zapping ear device supercharge exercise for neck pain?

NCT ID NCT07769034

Disease control Sponsor: Kutahya Health Sciences University Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

What the study statuses mean

This study's is highlighted.

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 Results may not be published yet.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This status has not been confirmed recently, so it may be out of date.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 Aug 17, 2026 · Last updated Aug 18, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This trial tests whether applying a gentle electrical stimulation to the ear (taVNS) before or after exercise changes outcomes for people with chronic neck pain. Participants will be split into three groups: taVNS before exercise, taVNS after exercise, or exercise alone, all following a standardized exercise program over 6-8 weeks. Researchers will measure pain intensity, neck disability, sleep quality, heart rate variability, and exercise adherence to see if the timing of stimulation adds any benefit beyond exercise alone.

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) delivered via a device, combined with a standardized exercise program
What this could lead to
If timing matters, this could point to a simple, drug-free way to boost the benefits of exercise for chronic neck pain, potentially improving pain, disability, and sleep.
What could go wrong
This is a relatively small trial, and results may not apply to everyone. The benefit of adding taVNS to exercise is uncertain, and individual responses may vary.

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 81 people

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

Expected to start

Sep 2026

An estimate. Start dates often move.

Expected to finish

Sep 2027

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 to 65 years

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 chronic neck pain confirmed by a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician. * Age between 18 and 65 years. * Neck pain persisting or recurring for at least 3 months. * Ability to participate in the exercise program included in the study protocol. * No contraindication to transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation. * Willingness to provide written informed consent. * Willingness to participate regularly in the planned exercise and assessment sessions. Exclusion Criteria: * Cervical radiculopathy or specific neurological findings. * Previous cervical spine surgery. * Serious cardiovascular disease. * Serious neurological or systemic disease. * Pregnancy. * Orthopedic or musculoskeletal conditions preventing participation in exercise. * Cognitive or communication problems that prevent completion of the assessment instruments. * Inability or unwillingness to comply with the study protocol or attend scheduled sessions.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Chronic Pain Motor Activity

As listed by the trial registrant

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

Chronic neck pain

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.

    Open the record ↗

  3. A doctor treating you

    A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Kutahya Health Sciences University Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Research Center

    Kütahya, Türkiye, 43100, Turkey (Türkiye)

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