Effect of Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation on Upper Limb Function in Stroke Patients

NCT06048055 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 40

Last updated 2025-04-30

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

The goal of this interventional study is to investigate the therapeutic efficacy of non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation on upper limb function in chronic stroke patients . The main question is:

•Is there a significant effect of non-invasive vagal nerve stimulation on upper limb motor function in stroke patients? Participants will be assigned into two groups. They will receive 12 sessions of true or sham transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation for 30 minutes immediately followed by 30 minutes of selected physical therapy program, three sessions per week for four weeks.

Conditions

  • Stroke, Ischemic

Interventions

OTHER

Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation

Patients in this group will be treated with 12 sessions of transcutaneous auricular nerve stimulation, three sessions per week for four weeks. The stimulation of the left auricular branch of the vagus nerve will be performed by conventional transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) through a Gamna Duo 200 electrotherapy device with one channel and two electrodes (5mm diameter disposable adhesive stimulation electrodes). The TENS parameters will be used: 30 30-minute treatment time, a pulse width of 200 milliseconds, and a pulse frequency of 20 hertz. The intensity of stimulation will be individually adjusted according to the patient's perceptual threshold. The perceptual threshold (PT) is defined as the minimum amount of electricity required to perceive electrical stimulation on the skin described as a pricking or tingling sensation. The stimulation intensity will be set at super-threshold levels, such as 200% of the patient's perceptual threshold.

OTHER

selected physical therapy program

The selected physical therapy program session will be from 25 to 30 minutes, three sessions per week for four weeks. The program will be selected mainly for stretching for shortened upper limb muscles, strengthening for weak upper limb muscles, occupational therapy for hand, trunk, and pelvic control exercises, and gait training.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Cairo University

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Moshera H Darwish, Professor · Cairo University

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
DOUBLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
45 Years
Max Age
65 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2023-10-01
Primary Completion
2024-04-03
Completion
2024-04-10

Countries

  • Egypt

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT06048055 on ClinicalTrials.gov