Actively Recruiting
Non-invasive VNS in Stroke Recovery
Led by The Methodist Hospital Research Institute · Updated on 2026-03-02
60
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
163 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
To evaluate feasibility and effectiveness of non-invasive VNS to enhance stroke recovery
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Non-invasive VNS in Stroke Recovery
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Symptomatic ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke verified by computerized axial tomography or magnetic resonance imaging resulting in hemiparesis (MRC 1-4).
- Age more than 18, Male or Female, All racial and ethnic groups
- Entry into the study >6 months post onset
- Patients who can safely undergo taVNS
- Able to follow 2 step commands
- Modified Ashworth Scale Score =<3 in the involved upper extremity
- Passive range of motion within functional ranges at the shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand
- UFM =< 60 (scale 0-66)
You will not qualify if you...
- Patients with history of severe alcohol or drug abuse, psychiatric illnesses like severe depression, poor motivational capacity, or severe language disturbances, particularly of receptive nature or with serious cognitive deficits (defined as unable to follow study instructions).
- Patients with bilateral paresis, or weakness or sensory damage due to peripheral causes (e.g. peripheral nerve injury, muscle or orthopedic injury etc.)
- Subjects with contraindication to MRI of the brain
- Patients with severe uncontrolled medical problems (e.g. cardiovascular disease, severe rheumatoid arthritis, active joint deformity of arthritic origin, active cancer or renal disease, any kind of end-stage pulmonary or cardiovascular disease, or a deteriorated condition due to age, epilepsy or others).
- Patients with unstable cardiac arrhythmia, reentry tachycardia.
- Pregnancy
- Patients with pacemakers or stimulators that interfere with the stimulation, or other investigational devices or drugs
- Non-English speaking individuals will only be eligible if they can provide the appropriate translator for all the sessions of the study as no funding is available to pay for such services. However we plan to include them once funding has been secured in the subsequent larger trial.
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility
Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
Houston Methodist Research Institute
Houston, Texas, United States, 77030
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
D
Darrel W Cleere, MPH
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
TREATMENT
Number of Arms
2
Not the Right Trial for You?
Explore thousands of other clinical trials that might be a better match.
Sign up to get personalized trial recommendations delivered to your inbox.
Already have an account? Log in here