At-Home taVNS - Stroke Rehab

Description

Early evidence suggests the benefits of post-stroke motor rehabilitation may be enhanced by applying electrical stimulation to the ear. This study aims to test the new approach of pairing ear stimulation with motor rehabilitation in the home setting in stroke survivors with upper limb motor function deficits.

Conditions

Stroke, Stroke, Ischemic, Stroke Hemorrhagic

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Study Overview

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Study Details

Study overview

Early evidence suggests the benefits of post-stroke motor rehabilitation may be enhanced by applying electrical stimulation to the ear. This study aims to test the new approach of pairing ear stimulation with motor rehabilitation in the home setting in stroke survivors with upper limb motor function deficits.

Development of At-Home Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Post-Stroke Rehabilitation

At-Home taVNS - Stroke Rehab

Condition
Stroke
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

Charleston

Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, United States, 29403

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

For general information about clinical research, read Learn About Studies.

Eligibility Criteria

  • * 18-80 years old with an ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke that occurred ≥6 months prior;
  • * Ability to give consent;
  • * Unilateral limb (left or right) weakness with Fugl Meyer-Upper Extremity Scale score of 19-53/60 points which indicates adequate arm/hand use for rehabilitation tasks;
  • * active wrist flexion/extension ≥10° with active abduction/extension of thumb and at least 1 digit ≥10° to further assure ability to participate in rehabilitation tasks;
  • * Passive range of motion in affected shoulder, elbow and wrist within 20 degrees of normal values.
  • * Other concomitant neurological disorders affecting upper extremity motor function;
  • * Presence of Dysphagia or aspiration difficulties;
  • * Prior injury to vagus nerve;
  • * Pregnancy;
  • * Documented history of dementia before or after stroke;
  • * Documented history of uncontrolled depression or psychiatric disorder either before or after stroke which could affect their ability to participate in the experiment;
  • * Uncontrolled hypertension;
  • * Botox injections within 4 weeks of the first day of rehabilitation therapy.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 Years to 80 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Collaborators and Investigators

Medical University of South Carolina,

Bashar Badran, PhD, PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, Medical University of South Carolina

Study Record Dates

2026-09-30