Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42351122›Full record

Trial reportJournal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation2026

Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation paired with task-specific training for improving walking and balance in chronic stroke: a double-blind, randomised controlled feasibility trial.

Ashraf N H Gerges, Jeric Uy, Lewis Ingram, Susan Hillier, Joanne Bouckley, Ellana Welsby, Ines Serrada, Taya Hamilton, Saran Chamberlain, Brenton Hordacre

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Ashraf N H GergesInnovation, Implementation and Clinical Translation (IIMPACT) in Health, School of Allied Health and Human Performance, College of Health, Adelaide University, Adelaide, SA, Australia. ashraf.gerges@adelaide.edu.au.
Jeric UyInnovation, Implementation and Clinical Translation (IIMPACT) in Health, School of Allied Health and Human Performance, College of Health, Adelaide University, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
Lewis IngramAlliance for Research in Exercise, Nutrition and Activity (ARENA), School of Allied Health and Human Performance, College of Health, Adelaide University, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
Susan HillierInnovation, Implementation and Clinical Translation (IIMPACT) in Health, School of Allied Health and Human Performance, College of Health, Adelaide University, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
Joanne BouckleyInnovation, Implementation and Clinical Translation (IIMPACT) in Health, School of Allied Health and Human Performance, College of Health, Adelaide University, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
Ellana WelsbyInnovation, Implementation and Clinical Translation (IIMPACT) in Health, School of Allied Health and Human Performance, College of Health, Adelaide University, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
Ines SerradaInnovation, Implementation and Clinical Translation (IIMPACT) in Health, School of Allied Health and Human Performance, College of Health, Adelaide University, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
Taya HamiltonPerron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, University of Western Australia Medical School, Perth, WA, Australia.
Saran ChamberlainInnovation, Implementation and Clinical Translation (IIMPACT) in Health, School of Allied Health and Human Performance, College of Health, Adelaide University, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
Brenton HordacreInnovation, Implementation and Clinical Translation (IIMPACT) in Health, School of Allied Health and Human Performance, College of Health, Adelaide University, Adelaide, SA, Australia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundTranscutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) paired with task-specific training has shown promise for improving upper-limb motor recovery after stroke but its effects on gait and balance remain unclear. This study evaluated the feasibility and safety of taVNS paired with task-specific training and explored preliminary effects on walking and balance outcomes in adults with chronic stroke.

methodsA double-blinded, sham-controlled trial was conducted to evaluate active versus sham taVNS paired with task-specific training (15 one-hour sessions over six weeks). Feasibility metrics included recruitment, participant experience, adverse events (AEs), and blinding effectiveness. Clinical outcomes (walking speed, endurance, gait parameters, and balance) were assessed at baseline, post-intervention, and ≥ 30 days post-intervention, supplemented by qualitative interviews.

resultsTwenty-five adults with chronic stroke completed this study (18 males, mean age 64.99 ± 13.45 years; 41.80 ± 38.00 months post-stroke, 14 received active taVNS). Active taVNS was considered feasible and safe, with a 93% consent rate; 96% of participants found the intervention useful/helpful, and 100% found the stimulation acceptable. There were no serious AEs, with 16% of participants reporting mild side effects. Both groups improved across clinical outcomes. No statistically significant between-group differences were observed. Between-group effect sizes were small for gait, balance, disability, and self-efficacy, and small-to-moderate for walking endurance; however, confidence intervals crossed zero for all outcomes.

conclusionActive taVNS paired with task-specific training was feasible and well tolerated in chronic stroke. No definitive between-group effects were detected. Observed effect sizes should inform the design and sample size calculations of future adequately powered trials using optimised taVNS protocols.

Indexed as

Exercise TherapyPostural BalanceStroke RehabilitationTranscutaneous Electric Nerve StimulationVagus Nerve StimulationWalkingAgedChronic DiseaseDouble-Blind MethodFeasibility StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedStrokeTreatment Outcome

Identifiers

PMID42351122
PMCPMC13455390

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.