Can a nerve zap in the ear ease chikungunya joint pain?

NCT ID NCT07523126

Ongoing Symptom relief Sponsor: Universidade Federal de Pernambuco Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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

Summary

This study tests a gentle electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve in the ear (taVNS) to reduce chronic joint pain in the legs caused by Chikungunya fever. 51 adults with pain lasting at least 3 months will be randomly assigned to taVNS, standard TENS, or a sham device. The goal is to see if taVNS can lower pain and improve function and quality of life.

What this could mean

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

Active substance: transcutaneous vagus nerve electrical stimulation (taVNS)
What this could lead to: If it works, this could offer a drug-free way to manage long-term joint pain after Chikungunya fever, improving quality of life.
What could go wrong: This is a small, early-stage trial with only 51 participants. The effect may be small or no better than placebo, and results may not apply to everyone.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

chikungunya Chronic Pain

As listed by the trial registrant

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

CHRONIC PAIN AND COMORBID EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS CHRONIC PAIN MANAGEMENT

Contacts and locations

Locations

Federal University of Pernambuco - Department of Physiotherapy, Electrophototherapy Laboratory

Recife, Pernambuco, 50670-420, Brazil

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