Could a belly zapper cut bathroom time for spinal injury patients?
NCT ID NCT06948175
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
Many people with spinal cord injury struggle with slow bowel emptying and constipation. This study tests whether a small device that delivers gentle electrical pulses to the belly can speed up bowel movements and improve stool consistency. Twelve participants will use the stimulator at home for 30 minutes before each bowel routine over two months. Researchers will compare bowel function with and without the device.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- abdominal transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TES) device
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could offer a simple, non-drug way to reduce bowel emptying time and improve quality of life for people with spinal cord injury.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very small early study (12 people) testing a specific stimulation method. Results may not apply to everyone, and the benefit may be modest or not work at all.
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
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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
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About 12 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Jul 2025
- Expected to finish
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Dec 2026
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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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
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18 to 80 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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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 Hide 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: 1. Traumatic or non-traumatic SCI 2. \>1 year post injury 3. Injury level C2 - S5 (NLI, neurological level of injury) 4. AIS A, B, C, D (American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale) 5. Feels defecation takes too long and wants to do something about it 6. Defecation takes \> 30 minutes Exclusion Criteria: 1. Bladder stimulator 2. Inflammatory bowel disease 3. Pregnancy 4. Unable to give consent
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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.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
The full official record for this study. This one lists no contact details, but it is the first place any would appear.
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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
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Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital
Edmonton, Alberta, T5G 0B7, Canada
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Can a daily injection restore hand function after spinal cord injury?
- Spinal cord injury drug trial halted early
- Spinal stimulation trial aims to restore movement in paralyzed patients
- Spinal implant aims to restore walking in paralysis patients
- New walking training shows promise for spinal cord injury recovery