Gentle ear or neck zaps may help stroke survivors regain arm use and thinking skills
NCT ID NCT07253870
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tests whether a gentle, non-invasive nerve stimulation (called tVNS) applied to the ear or neck can improve arm movement, thinking, and quality of life when paired with standard therapy in people who had a stroke 3–6 months ago. About 54 adults who had their first ischemic stroke will be randomly assigned to one of two stimulation methods or a sham group. The goal is to see if adding nerve stimulation to task-specific training leads to better recovery than therapy alone.
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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 54 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Nov 2025
- Expected to finish
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Jun 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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45 to 70 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.
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Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * First ever ischemic stroke * Subacute phase of stroke 3-6 months post onset * Fugl-Meyer Assessment-Upper Extremity (FMA-UE) scores ranged from 20 - 50 Exclusion Criteria: * Previous injury or surgical intervention of vagus nerve * Patients with cardiac arrest and arrythmias * Uncontrolled hypertension * Apraxia * Other neurologic or musculoskeletal diseases * Presence of implanted electronic devices
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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
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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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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Shadman Medical Center, Stroke Rehabilitation
RECRUITINGLahore, Punjab Province, 54660, Pakistan
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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