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NCT07272239Recruiting

Effects of tVNS and mCIMT in Chronic Stroke

Combined Effects of Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation and Modified Constraint Induced Movement Therapy on Upper Extremity Function, Cognition and Quality of Life in Individual With Chronic Stroke

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Last updated 9 Dec 2025

Brief summary (registry, in English)

Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide, resulting in significant physical and cognitive impairments. Arm weakness is most common after stroke and its treatment is recognized as an area of considerable need. The functional limitations and disabilities experienced by stroke survivors, particularly in the upper limb have a profound impact on their quality of life. Current treatment for arm weakness typically comprises intensive, task-specific and repetitive rehabilitative interventions. Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) is a novel noninvasive treatment for stroke that directly stimulates the peripheral auricular branch of the vagus nerve. This study determines the effects of Vagus Nerve Stimulation and Modified Constraint Induced Movement Therapy on Motor Function, Cognition, and Quality of life in chronic stroke patients. This randomized clinical trial will be conducted at IIMCT Railway General Hospital and Al-firdous physiotherapy clinic over a duration of six months. The sample size will consist of 50 participants. Participants which meet the inclusion criteria will be taken through non-probability convenience sampling technique, which will further be randomized through online randomization tool. 25 Participants will be assigned to Group A receiving tVNS and mCIMT with routine physical therapy and 25 to Group B receiving mCIMT with routine physical therapy . Data will be collected using various assessment tools, including Fugl-Meyer Assessment-UE (FM-UE), and Nine-hole peg test (NHPT) to assess Motor function. Stroke Impact Scale (SIS) to assess QOL, Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) to assess cognition, and Modified Ashworth scale to assess spasticity. All participants will receive intervention 3 days a week on alternative days for 8 weeks. Pre-intervention assessments will be conducted for both groups. The effects of the interventions will be measured at pre-treatment, 4th week, and post-intervention. Data analysis will be performed by using SPSS 26 software. Key words: Modified Constraint Induced movement Therapy, Motor function, Rehabilitation, Stroke, Transcutaneous Vagus nerve stimulation, Upper extremity.

Status (registry)
Recruiting
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
50 (estimated)
First submitted
18 Nov 2025
Start date
25 Nov 2025
Primary completion date
5 May 2026
Lead sponsor
Riphah International University
Diseases
Stroke
NCT number
NCT07272239

What you commit to

  • Study type: Interventional
  • Planned participants: 50
  • From 25 Nov 2025 to the primary completion date, 5 May 2026
  • 2 sites in 1 country
  • Visits and tests: ask the trial team, the registry does not list them

Built from the registry fields of ClinicalTrials.gov. It describes the study, not your situation.

Who cannot take part

Copied verbatim from ClinicalTrials.gov and grouped by topic. Only the trial team decides who can take part.

Other illness

  • Participants who have a history of significant neurological or psychiatric disorders, other than stroke, that could interfere with upper limb motor or sensory recovery.
  • Resting heart rate (\< 50 beats/min).

Other

  • Participants who show the symptoms of global or receptive aphasia.
  • Modified Ashworth scale score ≥ 3 of the affected upper extremity.
  • Patients who are not able to sit with or without support.
  • Patients with severe apraxia, somatosensory problems.
  • Participants who are currently participating in another clinical trial or research study.

Who the study is looking for

  • Both male and female patients are included in the study.
  • Left sided ischemic stroke patients.
  • Patients with chronic, moderate-severe upper limb hemiparesis (\>6 months-2 years)
  • Stable participants having a stroke severity score \> 6 on National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS).
  • Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score ≥26.

Age in the registry: 50 years to 75 years · Sex: All · Does not accept healthy volunteers

Full criteria on ClinicalTrials.gov

Sites (2)

Sites in registry order. Pick your city on the disease page to sort them by distance.

SiteCityCountrySite status
Al- firdous physiotherapy clinic
Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status
RawalpindiPakistanRecruiting
IIMCT- Railway General Hospital
Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status
RawalpindiPakistanRecruiting

This page is information, not medical advice. Discuss any trial with your doctor.