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Electric zaps to the spine may help seniors stay steady on their feet

NCT ID NCT06517043

What the study statuses mean

This study's is highlighted.

Recruitment status, easiest to join first

Recruiting now This study
This trial is taking on new participants right now.
Not yet recruiting
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 Results may not be published yet.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This status has not been confirmed recently, so it may be out of date.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 Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study tests whether a gentle electrical current applied to the lower spine can boost the effects of balance training in adults aged 65 to 95 who have trouble walking and balancing. Participants will perform balance exercises while receiving either real or sham spinal stimulation. Researchers will measure changes in balance, walking speed, and spinal nerve activity to see if the combination works better than 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 spinal direct current stimulation (tsDCS)
What this could lead to
If effective, this approach could lead to a simple, non-invasive therapy to reduce fall risk and preserve independence in older adults.
What could go wrong
This is a small early-stage study with only 30 participants, so results may not apply broadly. The stimulation may provide no extra benefit over balance training alone.

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 30 people

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

Started

Jan 2025

Expected to finish

Oct 2026

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

65 to 95 years

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

Accepted

You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.

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: * age range: 65 to 95 years * no severe high blood pressure: Resting systolic \< 180 mmHg and diastolic \< 100 mmHg * no severe vision impairment: Visual acuity ≥ 20/70 as determined by Snellen eye chart * walking problem: Preferred walking speed slower than 1.0 m/s over 10 meters * balance problem: Berg Balance Scale score \< 45 * no cognitive impairment: Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score ≥ 26 out of 30 Exclusion Criteria: * diagnosed neurological disorder or injury of the central nervous system, or observation of symptoms consistent with such a condition (Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, stroke, etc.) * severe arthritis, such as awaiting joint replacement * current cardiovascular, lung or renal disease; untreated diabetes; terminal illness * myocardial infarction or major heart surgery in the previous year * cancer treatment in the past year, except for nonmelanoma skin cancers and cancers having an excellent prognosis (e.g., early stage breast or prostate cancer) * current diagnosis of schizophrenia, other psychotic disorders, or bipolar disorder * currently taking medications that affect the central nervous system, such as benzodiazepines, anti-cholinergic medication, and GABAergic medication, among others * uncontrolled hypertension at rest (systolic \> 180 mmHg and/or diastolic \> 100 mmHg) * bone fracture or joint replacement in the previous six months * current enrollment in any other clinical trial * planning to relocate out of the area during the study period * non-English\* speaking, due to the likelihood of difficulties following instructions and communicating remotely * clinical judgment of the investigative team

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As listed by the trial registrant

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

How to take part

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  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

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Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Malcom Randall VA Medical Center Brain Rehabilitation Research Center

    RECRUITING

    Gainesville, Florida, 32608, United States

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