Brain zaps + arm training: new hope for stroke survivors?
NCT ID NCT06752499
First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tested whether combining repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) with motor training helps stroke patients regain arm function. 60 participants were split into three groups: online rTMS during training, offline rTMS before training, or sham stimulation. They received 10 sessions over two weeks. The goal was to see if online rTMS boosts recovery more than the other approaches.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could point toward a better way to help stroke survivors regain arm movement.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-stage study with only 60 people. Results may not apply to all stroke patients, and the improvement might be small.
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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60 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Feb 2023
- Finished
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Sep 2025
- 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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20 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. The patient is first diagnosed with stroke through neurological examination, CT or MRI scan. 2. The vital signs are stable and there is a certain degree of upper limb motor dysfunction. 3. The age is between 20 and 80 years old. 4. The cognitive ability is not significantly affected and the patient can cooperate with various examinations and assessments, with a MMSE score ≥ 20 points. 5. There are no serious complications (such as pneumonia, heart failure, urinary tract infection or malnutrition). 6. There is no pathological condition that is a contraindication for TMS in the medical history (for example, patients with metal in the brain, such as aneurysm clips, patients with a cardiac pacemaker, pregnant women, or those with a history of epileptic seizures). 7. The patient or guardian agrees to sign the informed consent form. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Patients with severe heart, lung, liver, kidney diseases and malignant tumors; 2. Those with a history of aphasia, severe cognitive impairment or mental illness; 3. Patients who have had a history of epileptic seizures in the last month or are taking anti-epileptic drugs recently; 4. Those with severe visual or hearing impairments, unable to communicate normally; 5. People with metal implants, pacemakers, skull defects or other conditions that prevent them from undergoing TMS.
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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
Locations
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Changhai Hospital
Shanghai, Yangpu, China
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Shanghai Ruijin Hospital, affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of medicine
Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality, 200025, China
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Shanghai Yang Zhi Rehabilitation Hospital
Shanghai, Songjiang, China
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Robot could let stroke patients rehab their hands at home without a therapist
- Moving patterns may help stroke survivors read faster
- Vibrating wearables put stroke walking to the test
- Robot plus electrical stimulation aims to rebuild arm movement after stroke
- Can a checklist and heart monitor stop repeat strokes?
- Heart hole or stroke trigger? global registry tracks who gets closure and what happens next