CClinicalTrials.gg
Status unknownNCT05275049NeuroMSTraLSUpdated Mar 11, 2022

Neuromodulation in MS Using Translingual Stimulation

An interventional study of PT plus translingual stimulation device and PT plus translingual stimulation control device in Multiple Sclerosis, sponsored by University of Saskatchewan. Status unknown at 2 sites in Canada. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 70 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2022-03-11.

Sponsored by University of Saskatchewan · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

The sponsor has not verified this record recently (last verified Mar 2022), so the status shown — last known as Enrolling by invitation — may be out of date.

From the registry’s dates

  • Registered 4 months after the study started (first participant enrolled Jul 2021, registered Nov 2021).
Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
52
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 70 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

The overarching aim of this study is to examine if there is additional benefit to adding trans-lingual electrical stimulation to physiotherapy aimed at improving walking and balance in people with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Read the detailed description

This is a two arm, participant-blinded, interventionist blinded, and research assessor-blinded RCT Participants with walking problems due to MS (Patient Determined Disease Steps PDDS 3-6) will be randomized 1:1 after baseline assessment stratified into 2 arms (lower walking disabilities PDDS 3+4, and higher walking disabilities PDDS 5+6) Following a 14 week balance and walking training intervention, participants will be instructed to continue to exercise independently according to the evidence-based Physical Activity Guidelines in MS for a subsequent 12 weeks. They will be reassessed at the end of that time (FOLLOW-UP).

02

Conditions studied

  • Multiple Sclerosis

Keywords

  • physiotherapy
  • walking and balance
  • neurorehabilitation
  • non-invasive cranial nerve neuromodulation
03

In context

Multiple Sclerosis

3,460 studies on the registry are indexed under Multiple Sclerosis; 661 are open to participants now.

This study's planned enrollment of 52 is close to the median of 50 across 2,342 interventional studies indexed under Multiple Sclerosis.

Browse Multiple Sclerosis studies →

Lead sponsor

University of Saskatchewan is the lead sponsor of 237 studies on the registry; 33 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 70 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  • confirmed diagnosis of multiple sclerosis
  • gait deficit due to MS but still able to walk (EDSS less than 6.5, PDDS 3-6)
  • older than 18 and less than 70 years of age
  • agree to the study time commitment.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • currently attending physical rehabilitation for walking and/or balance training,
  • currently already functional community ambulators (gait speed>120cm/s)
  • contra-indications to the use of translingual electrical stimulation (active or suspected malignant tumor; recent bleeding or open wounds in mouth; women who are pregnant, or sensitivity to nickel, gold or copper)
05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Quadruple (Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor)
Enrollment
52 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    PT+ Device

    PT plus translingual stimulation device PoNS device will be used to deliver trans-lingual electrical stimulation. The stimulation will be delivered while the participants engages in evidence-based physiotherapy for walking and balance.

    Combination Product: PT plus translingual stimulation device

  • Active comparator
    PT + Control Device

    PT plus translingual stimulation control device Control device will be used. Participants will wear device while engaging in evidence-based physiotherapy for walking and balance.

    Combination Product: PT plus translingual stimulation control device

Interventions

  • Combination productPT plus translingual stimulation device

    PoNS device will be used to deliver trans-lingual electrical stimulation. The stimulation will be delivered while the participants engages in evidence-based physiotherapy for walking and balance.

  • Combination productPT plus translingual stimulation control device

    Control device will be used. Participants will wear device while engaging in evidence-based physiotherapy for walking and balance.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Timed 25 foot walk test (T25FWT)

    The patient is directed to one end of a clearly marked 25-foot course and is instructed to walk 25 feet as quickly as possible, but safely. The time is calculated from the initiation of the instruction to start and ends when the patient has reached the 25-foot mark. The task is immediately administered again by having the patient walk back the same distance. Patients may use assistive devices when doing this task. Time to complete the T25FWT, and walking seed will be calculated. A lower time and faster walking speed indicates better walking performance

    Time frame: 27 weeks

  2. Dynamic Gait Index (DGI)

    This scale has 8 conditions that an individual walks in (e.g. normal, head turns, change in speed, pivot, stairs). Performance for each condition is scored on a scale of 0 to 3, with 3 indicating normal performance and 0 representing severe impairment. The best score on the DGI is 24, and a higher score means less walking impairment.

    Time frame: 27 weeks

Secondary outcomes

  1. Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale (MSIS-29)

    This is a 29 item self-reported questionnaire - 20 items deal with physical state and 9 with psychological. Items ask about the impact of MS on day-to-day life in the past two weeks. All items have 5 response options: 1 "not at all" to 5"extremely". Each of the two scales are scored by summing the responses across items, then converting to a 0-100 scale where a larger number (e.g. closer to 100) indicates greater impact of disease on daily function.

    Time frame: 27 weeks

  2. Fatigue Scale for Motor and Cognitive Functions

    This is a 20-item self-reported questionnaire, a Likert-type 5-point scale (ranging from 'does not apply at all' to 'applies completely') produces a score between 1 and 5 for each scored question. Minimum value is 20 (no fatigue at all) and maximum value is 100 (severest grade of fatigue). Two subscales (mental and physical fatigue) can be made as 10 questions relate to motor fatigue and 10 to cognitive fatigue. A higher score means the individuals is more affected by fatigue.

    Time frame: 27 weeks

  3. Short From 36 Health Survey Questionnaire (SF-36)

    This is a self-reported questionnaire used to rate health related quality of life. Eight health concepts are covered in 36 questions: physical functioning, bodily pain, role limitations due to physical health problems, role limitations due to personal or emotional problems, emotional well-being, social functioning, energy/fatigue, and general health perceptions. The 36 items are rated using a number of different scales and an intricate formula is used to calculate a final score. A high score defines a more favorable health state

    Time frame: 27 weeks

  4. Multiple sclerosis walking scale - 12 item (MSWS-12)

    This is a 12 item self-reported questionnaire where participants rate each item from 1-5, giving a total out of 60, and then transforming this to a scale with a range from 0 to 100%. Higher scores indicate a greater impact on walking than lower scores.

    Time frame: 27 weeks

07

Study locations

2 sites
  • Memorial University of Newfoundland
    St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador A1A 1E5, Canada
  • University of Saskatchewan
    Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 2Z4, Canada
08

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Mar 11, 2022, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
09

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT05275049
Lead sponsor
University of Saskatchewan
Collaborators
Memorial University of Newfoundland
Responsible party
Sarah Donkers (Principal Investigator, Assistant Professor, University of Saskatchewan) — Principal investigator
First posted
Mar 11, 2022
Start date
Jul 5, 2021
Primary completion
Jul 5, 2022 (estimated)
Completion
Dec 1, 2022 (estimated)
Last update
Mar 11, 2022

Study contacts

Sarah Donkers
principal investigator · University of Saskatchewan
Michelle Ploughman
principal investigator · Memorial University of Newfoundland

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
Yes
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is status unknown, as verified in Mar 2022. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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