Trial Outcomes & Findings for Neuromodulation and Dynamic Balance in Stroke (NCT NCT05135533)

NCT ID: NCT05135533

Last Updated: 2026-08-13

Results Overview

Self-selected comfortable walking overground walking speed in cm/s.

Recruitment status

COMPLETED

Study phase

NA

Target enrollment

53 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

Pre-treatment, midpoint at four weeks, and post-treatment at 12 weeks

Results posted on

2026-08-13

Participant Flow

Seven participants were enrolled and assigned a study ID but were not included in the Outcome Measures analysis population. These participants did not receive study intervention (device never activated) due to screen failure or other reasons for discontinuation prior to randomization/treatment initiation. As they did not receive an allocated intervention, they are not included in the arm-level results.

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure
Portable Neuromodulation Stimulator
All participants will receive balance, gait and breathing exercises. In addition to the exercises, the Portable Neuromodulation Stimulator active group members will receive perceivable electrical stimulation felt as a moderately intense tingling sensation. Each participant will be issued their own PoNS device.
Sham
All participants will receive balance, gait and breathing exercises. In addition to the exercises, the sham group will wear the mouthpiece and receive a non-perceivable stimulus. Each participant will be issued their own PoNS device.
Overall Study
STARTED
25
21
Overall Study
COMPLETED
19
15
Overall Study
NOT COMPLETED
6
6

Reasons for withdrawal

Withdrawal data not reported

Baseline Characteristics

Seven participants were enrolled and assigned a study ID but were not included in the Outcome Measures analysis population. These participants did not receive study intervention (device never activated) due to screen failure or other reasons for discontinuation prior to randomization/treatment initiation. As they did not receive an allocated intervention, they are not included in the arm-level results reported below.

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure
Portable Neuromodulation Stimulator
n=25 Participants
All participants will receive balance, gait and breathing exercises. In addition to the exercises, the Portable Neuromodulation Stimulator active group members will receive perceivable electrical stimulation felt as a moderately intense tingling sensation. Each participant will be issued their own PoNS device.
Sham
n=21 Participants
All participants will receive balance, gait and breathing exercises. In addition to the exercises, the sham group will wear the mouthpiece and receive a non-perceivable stimulus. Each participant will be issued their own PoNS device.
Total
n=46 Participants
Total of all reporting groups
Age, Continuous
62.76 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 9.31 • n=1 Participants
56.67 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 8.2 • n=1 Participants
59.98 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 9.24 • n=1 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
12 Participants
n=1 Participants
7 Participants
n=1 Participants
19 Participants
n=1 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
13 Participants
n=1 Participants
14 Participants
n=1 Participants
27 Participants
n=1 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Hispanic or Latino
0 Participants
n=1 Participants
1 Participants
n=1 Participants
1 Participants
n=1 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Not Hispanic or Latino
23 Participants
n=1 Participants
19 Participants
n=1 Participants
42 Participants
n=1 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
2 Participants
n=1 Participants
1 Participants
n=1 Participants
3 Participants
n=1 Participants
Gait Speed
66.68 cm/s
STANDARD_DEVIATION 27.06 • n=1 Participants • Seven participants were enrolled and assigned a study ID but were not included in the Outcome Measures analysis population. These participants did not receive study intervention (device never activated) due to screen failure or other reasons for discontinuation prior to randomization/treatment initiation. As they did not receive an allocated intervention, they are not included in the arm-level results reported below.
64.71 cm/s
STANDARD_DEVIATION 37.28 • n=1 Participants • Seven participants were enrolled and assigned a study ID but were not included in the Outcome Measures analysis population. These participants did not receive study intervention (device never activated) due to screen failure or other reasons for discontinuation prior to randomization/treatment initiation. As they did not receive an allocated intervention, they are not included in the arm-level results reported below.
65.78 cm/s
STANDARD_DEVIATION 31.76 • n=1 Participants • Seven participants were enrolled and assigned a study ID but were not included in the Outcome Measures analysis population. These participants did not receive study intervention (device never activated) due to screen failure or other reasons for discontinuation prior to randomization/treatment initiation. As they did not receive an allocated intervention, they are not included in the arm-level results reported below.
Functional Gait Assessment
12.60 score on scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 5.35 • n=1 Participants
12.71 score on scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 6.28 • n=1 Participants
12.65 score on scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 5.72 • n=1 Participants

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Pre-treatment, midpoint at four weeks, and post-treatment at 12 weeks

Population: Seven participants were enrolled and assigned a study ID but were not included in the Outcome Measures analysis population. These participants did not receive study intervention (device never activated) due to screen failure or other reasons for discontinuation prior to randomization. As they did not receive an allocated intervention, they are not included in the arm-level results reported below.

Self-selected comfortable walking overground walking speed in cm/s.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Portable Neuromodulation Stimulator
n=25 Participants
The PoNS group received electrical stimulation.
Sham
n=21 Participants
The Sham group did not receive electrical stimulation.
Change in Gait Speed
Visit 1 (Baseline)
66.68 cm/s
Standard Deviation 27.06
64.71 cm/s
Standard Deviation 37.28
Change in Gait Speed
Visit 2 (Week 4)
69.58 cm/s
Standard Deviation 27.75
69.33 cm/s
Standard Deviation 37.07
Change in Gait Speed
Visit 3 (Week 12 - Post)
62.96 cm/s
Standard Deviation 30.03
68.69 cm/s
Standard Deviation 41.01

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Pre-treatment, midpoint at four weeks, and post-treatment at at 12 weeks

Population: Seven participants were enrolled and assigned a study ID but were not included in the Outcome Measures analysis population. These participants did not receive study intervention (device never activated) due to screen failure or other reasons for discontinuation prior to randomization. As they did not receive an allocated intervention, they are not included in the arm-level results reported below.

Functional Gait Assessment (FGA) assesses stability during walking. The score ranges between 0 and 30 with lower scores indicative of poor dynamic balance.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Portable Neuromodulation Stimulator
n=25 Participants
The PoNS group received electrical stimulation.
Sham
n=21 Participants
The Sham group did not receive electrical stimulation.
Change in Balance
Visit 1 (Baseline)
12.60 score on scale
Standard Deviation 5.35
12.71 score on scale
Standard Deviation 6.28
Change in Balance
Visit 2 (Week 4)
15.77 score on scale
Standard Deviation 5.75
15.00 score on scale
Standard Deviation 6.75
Change in Balance
Visit 3 (Week 12 - Post)
16.42 score on scale
Standard Deviation 5.98
15.13 score on scale
Standard Deviation 7.12

Adverse Events

Portable Neuromodulation Stimulator

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 2 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Sham

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Serious adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Other adverse events

Other adverse events
Measure
Portable Neuromodulation Stimulator
n=25 participants at risk
All participants will receive balance, gait and breathing exercises. In addition to the exercises, the Portable Neuromodulation Stimulator active group members will receive perceivable electrical stimulation felt as a moderately intense tingling sensation. Each participant will be issued their own PoNS device.
Sham
n=21 participants at risk
All participants will receive balance, gait and breathing exercises. In addition to the exercises, the sham group will wear the mouthpiece and receive a non-perceivable stimulus. Each participant will be issued their own PoNS device.
Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders
Wound on foot
8.0%
2/25 • Adverse events were collected from enrollment until their final follow up assessment visit (Visit 18), up to 24 weeks
Seven participants were enrolled and assigned a study ID but were not included in the Outcome Measures analysis population. These participants did not receive study intervention (device never activated) due to screen failure or other reasons for discontinuation prior to randomization/treatment initiation. As they did not receive an allocated intervention, they are not included in the arm-level results or adverse events.
0.00%
0/21 • Adverse events were collected from enrollment until their final follow up assessment visit (Visit 18), up to 24 weeks
Seven participants were enrolled and assigned a study ID but were not included in the Outcome Measures analysis population. These participants did not receive study intervention (device never activated) due to screen failure or other reasons for discontinuation prior to randomization/treatment initiation. As they did not receive an allocated intervention, they are not included in the arm-level results or adverse events.

Additional Information

Steven Kautz, PhD

Medical University of South Carolina

Phone: 843-792-3867

Results disclosure agreements

  • Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
  • Publication restrictions are in place