Comparing ear versus neck vagus nerve stimulation plus task training for subacute stroke recovery
Official title: Comparative Effects of Transcutaneous Auricular and Cervical Vagus Nerve Stimulation on Upper Limb Function, Cognition and Quality of Life in Subacute Stroke Patients
Run by Lahore University of Biological and Applied Sciences · NCT07253870 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This trial will test whether gentle electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve at the ear or neck, combined with task-specific arm training, helps people 3–6 months after an ischemic stroke recover arm function and thinking skills.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 45 Years to 70 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 54 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Lahore University of Biological and Applied Sciences Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Lahore, Punjab Province) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | November 20, 2025 |
| Main results expected | June 20, 2026 |
| Study ends | June 20, 2026 |
| Registry record updated | June 18, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07253870 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are people with a first-ever ischemic stroke 3–6 months after onset who have moderate upper-limb impairment (FMA-UE 20–50) and no implanted electronic devices or uncontrolled cardiac conditions.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with prior vagus nerve injury or surgery, implanted electronic devices, uncontrolled hypertension, cardiac arrhythmias, apraxia, other major neurologic or musculoskeletal diseases, or non-ischemic (hemorrhagic) strokes are excluded and unlikely to benefit from this protocol.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This interventional study enrolls people 3–6 months after a first ischemic stroke with moderate upper-limb impairment (FMA-UE 20–50) to receive transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) delivered either at the auricular or cervical branch alongside task-specific upper-limb exercises. Participants will undergo a program of paired stimulation and therapy with outcome measures focused on upper-limb motor function, cognitive domains (attention, memory, executive function), and quality of life. The protocol compares the two tVNS delivery sites to determine which approach provides greater functional gains when combined with rehabilitation. Safety and tolerability will also be recorded, and standard exclusion criteria (cardiac arrhythmias, implanted electronic devices, prior vagus nerve surgery, uncontrolled hypertension, apraxia, other neurologic/musculoskeletal disease) are applied.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could offer a noninvasive, low-cost way to speed recovery of arm movement, certain cognitive skills, and daily function for subacute ischemic stroke survivors.
How similar studies have gone: Previous small trials and pilot studies pairing vagus nerve stimulation with rehabilitation have shown promising improvements in motor recovery, but direct comparisons of transcutaneous auricular versus cervical approaches are novel.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
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
Where it's running
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Shadman Medical Center, Stroke Rehabilitation
Lahore, Punjab Province, Pakistan Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Aruba Saeed — Lahore University of Biological and Applied Sciences
- Study coordinator: Wafa Mansha, DPT
- Email: wafamalik583@gmail.com
- Phone: +92266303005
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.