Plain-English translation of NCT05981989 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated · Translation generated · How we translate trials
Read our Stroke research guide →This study doesn't follow the usual testing phases — it may be an observational study or a different type of research.
This study is testing a surgical implant called epidural electrical stimulation (EES) to help people who have had a stroke recover movement in their arm and hand. The device is placed on the spinal cord in the neck area and delivers gentle electrical pulses to activate arm and hand muscles. After surgery, you will work with a physical therapist and use the device regularly to help retrain your muscles.
Many stroke patients lose the ability to move their arm and hand on one side of the body, and current treatments have limited ability to restore this function. This trial is exploring whether electrical stimulation of the spinal cord could be a new way to help these muscles work again.
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You will have surgery to implant a small device with 16 electrodes on your spinal cord in the neck area. After healing from surgery, you will participate in a structured program combining physical therapy sessions with the electrical stimulation device turned on. Researchers will test your arm and hand strength, movement, and sensation using standard clinical tests to see how much function you regain over time.
AI-generated summary from trial data · Jul 19, 2026 · Not medical advice
Taiwan
Sponsor
Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital
Enrollment target
~20 participants
Started
April 2023
Primary completion
December 2026
Age range
20 Years – 70 Years
Last updated on clinicaltrials.gov in September 2025.
Reach out to the team running this trial. Response times vary — some teams are faster than others.
Central contact
Sheng-Tzung Tsai, M.D., Ph.D.
Hualien Tzu Chi General Hospital
Tell us you're interested and we'll help connect you with the research team. We'll walk you through what to expect first — no email needed to get started.