N/A N=15 Randomized Single-blind Treatment

Post-stroke Pain taVNS

Stroke · Pain

Bottom Line

View on ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT06456385 ↗

Enrolled (actual)

Serious AEs

0.0%

Results posted

Aug 2025

Primary outcome: Primary: Thermal Pain Threshold — 41.84; 42.51 Celsius

Study Design & Population

Study type: Interventional
Phase: N/A
Interventions: Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation (taVNS) (Device); Sham Auricular Stimulation (Device)
Age: Adult, Older Adult · 18+ yrs
Sex: All
Sponsor: Medical University of South Carolina
Primary completion: Sep 2024

Outcome Measures

Outcome	Result	p-value
PRIMARY Thermal Pain Threshold	41.84; 42.51	—
SECONDARY Subjective Pain Ratings	4.00; 3.57	—

Summary

The purpose of this study is to explore whether a non-invasive form of ear stimulation called transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) can change the way participants perceive pain. Investigators will recruit up to 20 participants with chronic post-stroke upper extremity pain. The goal is to determine if there is a pain reduction after ear stimulation.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

Age 18-80
Have the capacity and ability to provide one's own consent in English and sign the informed consent document.
Ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke that occurred at least 6 months prior
Unilateral stroke lesions in the left hemisphere
Right upper extremity pain

Exclusion Criteria

Primary intracerebral hematoma or subarachnoid hemorrhage
Documented history of dementia
Documented history of uncontrolled depression or psychiatric disorder
Uncontrolled hypertension despite treatment, specifically SBP (Systolic Blood Pressure) / DBP (Diastolic Blood Pressure) >=180/100mmHg
Pregnancy

View full record on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06456385). Outcome figures and adverse-event rates are extracted automatically from the registry's posted results and are provided for clinician reference, not as a substitute for the primary publication.