Plain-English translation of NCT06938243 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated · Translation generated · How we translate trials
Read our Stroke research guide →Phase 1 — Testing in a small group (usually 20–80 people) to find a safe dose and watch for side effects.
This study is testing whether vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) — a surgically implanted device that gently stimulates a nerve in your neck — can help improve arm and hand movement after stroke. Researchers want to know if starting this treatment within 6 months of stroke is safer and more effective than waiting longer, and whether it works better when combined with rehabilitation therapy.
Many people lose strength and control in their arm and hand after a stroke, and recovery can be limited. This treatment may help rewire the brain and restore movement, but doctors don't yet know whether starting it early—right after stroke—gives patients better results than waiting.
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If you join this trial, you will first complete one month of arm rehabilitation exercises twice per week to see if therapy alone helps your recovery. Then you will have surgery to implant the vagus nerve stimulation device. One month after surgery, the device will be turned on, and you will continue rehabilitation while the device works. You'll be in one of three groups: people who receive early stimulation (within 6 months of stroke), people who receive late stimulation (after 6 months), or people in the early group with the device turned off as a comparison. The trial will track your arm function and safety over time.
AI-generated summary from trial data · Jun 13, 2026 · Not medical advice
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