Spinal zaps may help people with standing tremor stay upright longer
NCT ID NCT02978924
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 26, 2026
Summary
This small study tested whether a mild electrical current applied to the spinal cord (tsDCS) could help people with primary orthostatic tremor, a rare condition that causes leg shaking when standing. 18 participants received either real or sham stimulation. The main goal was to see if they could stand longer without support. Researchers also measured tremor and brain activity.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- trans-spinal direct current stimulation (tsDCS) device
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could point toward a non-drug way to help people with primary orthostatic tremor stand more steadily.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very small, early study with only 18 people. The effect may be small or not last, and it may not work for everyone.
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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18 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Jan 2017
- Finished
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Nov 2017
- Lead sponsor
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A government agency
The lead sponsor is a government body.
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 85 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: * Patients with POT diagnosed since at least 1 year * Normal neurological examination with the exception of POT * Patients with or without treatment for TOP, or with treatment not sufficiently effective * Affiliated with the French social security scheme, universal medical coverages (CMU), or an equivalent scheme * Signed informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Psychiatric or neurological conditions (with the exception of POT) * Presence of potential tsDCS risk factors including an electrically, magnetically or mechanically activated implant (including cardiac pacemaker, epidural stimulation electrodes, etc.), an intravascular clip or any other electrically sensitive support system, damaged skin at the stimulation sites (i.e., skin with ingrown hairs, acne, razor nicks, wounds that have not healed, recent scar tissue, broken skin, etc.) * Presence of TMS risk factor including cardiac pacemaker, history of epilepsy, traumatic brain injury with loss of consciousness, intracerebral clips, cochlear or ocular implants * Pregnancy in women (as determined by a urine pregnancy test in pre-menopausal women), or lactating women or women planning pregnancy during the course of the study * Patients enrolled in another biomedical research at the time of the study * Participant who does not wish to be informed of any clinically relevant abnormalities (as determined by the investigators) identified during the course of the study * Patient under guardianship or curatorship, or under judicial supervision
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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.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Centre investigation clinique
Paris, 75013, France