Brain stimulation added to pelvic floor exercises for bladder symptoms after stroke
Tests gentle brain stimulation plus pelvic floor exercises in stroke survivors with overactive bladder.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Neurogenic Overactive Bladder Symptoms Among People With Stroke
Key facts
- Where
- Hong Kong, ChinaSee the site
Could this be for you?
Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.
- Are you between 18 and 80 years old?
Source: NCT07768137, who can take part
Where in China
- The Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityHong Kong, ChinaNo longer taking part
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Trial details
- Who runs it
- The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
- Trial code
- NCT07768137
- Record updated
- 26 October 2026
- Original description
Neurogenic overactive bladder (nOAB) is a common and distressing sequela following stroke, significantly impairing quality of life and imposing a substantial financial burden. Existing pharmacological options often present adverse effects, while standard non-pharmacological treatments, such as pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT), face compliance and efficacy limitations in individuals with functional impairments. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation technique capable of modulating neuronal excitability and cortical plasticity. Targeting the supplementary motor area (SMA) via tDCS may regulate pelvic floor muscle (PFM) and detrusor activities. However, clinical evidence evaluating tDCS as an adjuvant to PFMT for stroke survivors with nOAB is lacking. This randomized controlled pilot trial aims to evaluate the feasibility, preliminary effectiveness, and cost-utility of active tDCS combined with PFMT compared to sham tDCS plus PFMT in stroke survivors suffering from nOAB.Read full original descriptionShow less
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Neurogenic Overactive Bladder Symptoms Among People With Stroke: a Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial
Neurogenic overactive bladder (nOAB) is a common and distressing sequela following stroke, significantly impairing quality of life and imposing a substantial financial burden. Existing pharmacological options often present adverse effects, while standard non-pharmacological treatments, such as pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT), face compliance and efficacy limitations in individuals with functional impairments. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation technique capable of modulating neuronal excitability and cortical plasticity. Targeting the supplementary motor area (SMA) via tDCS may regulate pelvic floor muscle (PFM) and detrusor activities. However, clinical evidence evaluating tDCS as an adjuvant to PFMT for stroke survivors with nOAB is lacking. This randomized controlled pilot trial aims to evaluate the feasibility, preliminary effectiveness, and cost-utility of active tDCS combined with PFMT compared to sham tDCS plus PFMT in stroke survivors suffering from nOAB.
Inclusion: (1) Aged between 18-80 years; (2) having overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms (such as urgency, urine leakage, frequent urination, or frequent night-time urination) after stroke; (3) experiencing moderate (scoring 6-11 points on the Overactive Bladder Symptom Score [OABSS]) to severe OAB (scoring ≥ 12 points on OABSS); and (4) obtaining a Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score of ≥ 24.
Exclusion: (1) a personal or family history of epilepsy or seizures; (2) metallic implants or implanted electronic devices in or near the head, including cochlear implants, intracranial shunts, deep brain stimulation electrodes, surgical clips, staples, or other cranial metallic implants; (3) a cardiac pacemaker or other implanted electronic medical device; (4) increased intracranial pressure, an intracranial tumour, skull abnormalities, previous significant brain injury, or previous brain surgery; (5) skin lesions, infection, broken skin, or marked skin sensitivity at the electrode-placement sites; (6) frequent or severe headaches; (7) serious or unstable medical conditions, or use of medications that may affect brain excitability; (8) a history of substantial alcohol or substance misuse; (9) pregnancy or possible pregnancy; or (10) have received non-invasive brain stimulation (e.g., transcranial direct current stimulation, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, and transcranial alternating current stimulation) before.