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Multiple SclerosisNCT04498039

Reducing Symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis Using Non-invasive Neuromodulation

A study testing Portable Neuromodulation Stimulator in people with Multiple Sclerosis, run by University of Wisconsin, Madison.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

This study sought to examine the effect of targeted physical therapy with and without cranial nerve non-invasive neuromodulation (CN-NINM), on the walking ability of people with MS who exhibited a dysfunctional gait. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 65 years
Conditions the study is for
Multiple Sclerosis
What is being tested?
Portable Neuromodulation Stimulator
Type of treatment
Medical device
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
20 participants
Where
No sites listed yet
Study dates
Nov 2009to May 2011
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 65 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Relapsing remitting MS ("RRMS"), primary progressive MS ("PPMS"), or secondary progressive MS ("SPMS") without relapse within 6 months of enrollment;
  • EDSS score of 3.0 - 6.0 ;
  • No changes in medication within 3 months of enrollment;
  • Ability to walk 20 minutes on a treadmill (with handrail support as needed) without rest;
  • Provided informed consent and willing to participate.

Who cannot join

  • Major co-morbidities, especially other neurological disorders, uncontrolled pain, hypertension, diabetes, or oral health problems

About this study

This study sought to examine the effect of targeted physical therapy with and without cranial nerve non-invasive neuromodulation (CN-NINM), on the walking ability of people with MS who exhibited a dysfunctional gait.

Read the detailed description

Background: This study sought to examine the effect of targeted physical therapy with and without cranial nerve non-invasive neuromodulation (CN-NINM), on the walking ability of people with MS who exhibited a dysfunctional gait. The investigators hypothesized that subjects who received electrical stimulation would have greater improvement than those who had a control device after a 14-week intervention. Gait disturbance is a common problem for people with multiple sclerosis (MS). The investigators have developed an effective rehabilitative strategy using neuromodulation of the cranial nerves via electrical stimulation of the tongue to enhance the plasticity of the brain.

Methods: The study is a within-subject blinded randomized control design. Twenty chronic MS subjects with an identified gait disturbance were assigned to either an active or control group. Both groups completed a 14-week intervention program using a standardized combination of exercise and a device that provided electrical stimulation to the tongue. Those in the active group received electrical stimulation on the tongue that they could perceive. Those in the control group used a device that did not provide a physiologically significant stimulus and was not perceivable. Subjects were assessed with the Dynamic Gait Index (DGI).

Being tested
Portable Neuromodulation Stimulator
Medical subject headings
Multiple Sclerosis

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Portable Neuromodulation StimulatorDevice

    Also called PoNS

    Examining the effect of targeted physical therapy with and without cranial nerve non-invasive neuromodulation (CN-NINM), on the walking ability of people with MS who exhibit a dysfunctional gait. Adopting a rehabilitative strategy using neuromodulation of the cranial nerves via electrical stimulation of the tongue to enhance the plasticity of the brain.

Study groups in NCT04498039
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
ActiveExperimentalElectrical stimulation to the tongue is delivered via the Portable Neuromodulation Stimulator (PoNS™) device . The PoNS™ device is held in place lightly by the lips and teeth around a rectangular tab that goes into the mouth and rests on the anterior, superior part of the tongue. Active subjects will be able to feel the sensation.
Receives: Device: Portable Neuromodulation Stimulator
ControlSham comparatorElectrical stimulation to the tongue will be delivered via the Portable Neuromodulation Stimulator (PoNS™) device . The PoNS™ device is held in place lightly by the lips and teeth around a rectangular tab that goes into the mouth and rests on the anterior, superior part of the tongue. Control subjects will be informed that while they may not feel the electrotactile stimulation, they are in-fact receiving a low level signal.
Receives: Device: Portable Neuromodulation Stimulator

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Dynamic Gait Index DGI

    The Dynamic Gait Index (DGI) is a clinician-scored index of 8 gait tasks which was developed as a clinical tool for assessing gait, balance, and fall risk by evaluating dynamic balance. Tasks include steady state walking, changing speeds while walking, walking with horizontal and vertical head turns, walking around and stepping over objects, walking to a pivot turn and stop, and traversing stairs. The maximum total individual score is 24 points (0-3 on each task), with higher scores indicating better function. A 4-point change in DGI would require an improvement of at least one level on four of 8 tasks, or multiple levels of improvement on several tasks. Thus, a 4-point change represents a clinically significant difference that is generally measurable without excessive variability.

    Measured: 14 weeks

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted4 Aug 2020
  2. Study startNov 2009
  3. Primary completionMay 2011
  4. Study completionMay 2011

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Device feasibility
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Model description
The study is a within-subject blinded randomized control design. Twenty chronic MS subjects with an identified gait disturbance were assigned to either an active or control group. Both groups completed a 14-week intervention program using a standardized combination of exercise and a device that provided electrical stimulation to the tongue. Those in the active group received electrical stimulation on the tongue that they could perceive. Those in the control group used a device that did not provide a physiologically significant stimulus and was not perceivable. Subjects were assessed with the Dynamic Gait Index (DGI).
Masking
Triple blind
Who is masked
Participant, Care provider, Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
20 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT04498039
Sponsor's protocol ID
H2008-0252
Status last verified
Aug 2020
First submitted
27 Jul 2020
Last updated
7 Aug 2020
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Portable Neuromodulation Stimulator in people with Multiple Sclerosis, run by University of Wisconsin, Madison.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 7 Aug 2020. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Dynamic Gait Index DGI (time frame: 14 weeks). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 7 Aug 2020.

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