Please sign in to follow a disease.
Ear zaps may help stroke survivors steady their step
NCT ID NCT07629687
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jul 21, 2026 · Updated 2 times
Summary
This study tests whether a non-invasive device that gently stimulates a nerve in the ear can improve balance and body control in people who have had a stroke. Twenty-two participants will receive either the stimulation plus balance training or balance training alone. The goal is to see if this approach can reduce fall risk and improve daily mobility.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) device
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could point toward a non-drug way to help stroke patients regain balance and reduce fall risk.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very small early trial with only 22 participants, so results may not apply widely. The effect on balance is uncertain, and the stimulation may cause discomfort or skin irritation.
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 22 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
-
May 2026
- Expected to finish
-
Nov 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
-
18 to 70 years
- Sex
-
Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
-
Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
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: * Age between 18 to 70years who are diagnosed with ischemic brain injury, intracerebral hemorrhage shown by magnetic resonance imaging, or computed tomography. * First occurrence of stroke characterized by a unilateral lesion, with an onset time (acute/ subacute) \< 6 months * With balance impairment (BBS Score = 21-44); * no or mild spasticity on the lower-limb assessed by Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS ≤ 2); * sufficient cognition to follow the instructions provided by the therapists and the computer. Exclusion Criteria: * Individuals exhibiting unstable vital signs, consciousness disorders, or an inability to cooperate with examination and treatment procedures * Those with a heart rate below 60 beats per minute, or with implantable devices such as pacemakers or cochlear implants. * Other medical or psychological conditions affecting participation
Get updates
Get notified about this study
Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for Stroke are added.
Genom att skicka in godkänner du våra Användarvillkor
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.
-
The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
-
The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
-
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
-
Railway General Hospital, Rawalpindi
RECRUITINGIslamabad, Punjab Province, 44000, Pakistan
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