Can a nerve zap in the ear ease chikungunya joint pain?
NCT ID NCT07523126
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.
Disclaimer
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the original study
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Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
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Locations
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Federal University of Pernambuco - Department of Physiotherapy, Electrophototherapy Laboratory
Recife, Pernambuco, 50670-420, Brazil