Testing Transauricular Vagal Nerve Stimulation against a placebo for whiplash associated disorder (WAD)
Official title: Transauricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Chronic Whiplash Associated Disorders
The Safety and Feasibility of Transauricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation Therapy in Chronic Whiplash-Associated Disorders: A Randomized Pilot Trial
- 2 groups
- One site, in Calgary
- Recruiting
Interventions
- Medical device
Transauricular Vagal Nerve Stimulation
Transauricular VNS will be administered using the Parasym aVNT (auricular vagal neuromodulation therapy) Device (Nurosym, London, UK). The Parasym aVNT Device delivers non-invasive neuromodulation targeting the auricular branch of the vagus nerve via the tragus of the outer ear. All participants will receive four weeks of twice daily (morning and evening) 45-minute sessions of taVNS (frequency ≥ 25Hz; pulse width =250µs (Fig). The safety and tolerability of taVNS has been demonstrated in seven studies with a total of 205 (116 active, 121 sham) cardiovascular patients. Stimulation protocols ranged from 43 min to 8 hrs daily, for 1 day to 6 months. There were no device-related serious adverse events. Three patients (1.5%) experienced minor adverse events, i.e., dermal paresthesias (light tingling at the ear). No differences in tolerability were observed between active and sham taVNS \[21\].
Canadian Sites (1)
1 of 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Vivo Cura Health
Calgary, Alberta
Eligibility Criteria
See who this study is looking for15 criteria
The trial’s own eligibility text, word for word from the registry. Only the trial site can say who takes part.
Inclusion
- +Symptom duration ≥3 months and \<10 years; and
- +Classifiable as WAD grade I (neck pain without physical impairments) or II (neck pain \& impairment such as movement loss and/or tenderness) or III (neck pain \& neurological deficit evident on physical exam);
- +Average pain intensity (over one week) ≥ 4/10;
- +Neck Disability Index score \> 28% (14/50).
Exclusion
- −WAD IV injury (no neurological deficit, fracture, or dislocation);
- −Concussion symptoms;
- −Patients who have undergone cervical vagotomy;
- −Patients diagnosed with severe bradycardia;
- −Patients with a permanent implanted metallic or electronic device or jewellery at close proximity to the ear tragus;
- −Patients with any active implanted device (including electronic and/or medical devices) e.g. cochlear implant, cerebral shunts, invasive vagus nerve stimulators, or non-active but potentially interacting with the nervous system (e.g., metal implants);
- −Open wounds or rashes, swollen, red, infected, or inflamed areas or skin eruptions (e.g., phlebitis, thrombophlebitis, varicose veins); or cancerous lesions in the area of stimulation
- −Using medications associated with ANS function such as Beta Blockers;
- −History of any mental health conditions prior to the MVC, such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety, PTSD or severe depression;
- −People who are unable to complete the questionnaires.
- −Adverse general health factors such as presence of a neurological disorder (e.g., multiple sclerosis), inflammatory condition (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis), cardiovascular disorder (known severe coronary disease or recent myocardial infarction (within 5 years)); metabolic disorder (e.g., diabetes), visual deficit or disease process (e.g. cataracts, double or blurred vision), known or suspected serious spinal pathology (e.g. metastatic disease of the spine), pregnancy, or previous spinal surgery or recurrent treatment for spinal disorders;
In plain language
Assembled directly from this trial’s registry record. Every sentence traces to a field below — nothing here is generated or interpreted.
What this study is
This study is testing a treatment for a condition.
This study is not organised into the usual phase numbers — that is common for device, behavioural, and diagnostic research.
From the trial registry
Built from these fields:
- designModule.designInfo.primaryPurpose
- designModule.phases
Who receives what
There are 2 groups in this study.
Group A, the comparison group, receives Transauricular Vagal Nerve Stimulation.
Registry label: A: Active Transauricular Vagal Nerve Stimulation
Group B, the shamSham procedureA procedure made to feel like the real one, without the active step.Read more → group, receives Transauricular Vagal Nerve Stimulation.
Registry label: B: Sham Transauricular Vagal Nerve Stimulation
From the trial registry
Built from these fields:
- armsInterventionsModule.armGroups[].label
- armsInterventionsModule.armGroups[].type
- armsInterventionsModule.armGroups[].interventionNames
How the study is run
Which group you would be placed in is decided by chance, like a coin flip — not by you and not by your doctor.
You, the study team, and the people analysing the results would all be kept unaware of which group you are in until the study ends.
From the trial registry
Built from these fields:
- designModule.designInfo.allocation
- designModule.designInfo.maskingInfo.masking
Is there a placebo?
One group receives a sham procedureSham procedureA procedure made to feel like the real one, without the active step.Read more → — one made to feel like the real thing but without the active step.
One group receives an existing treatment, so the two can be compared.
From the trial registry
Built from these fields:
- armsInterventionsModule.armGroups[].type
- armsInterventionsModule.armGroups[].interventionNames
Who the study is looking for
The study lists an age range of 18 years to 65 years.
The study is open to people of any sex.
The study does not accept healthy volunteersHealthy volunteerSomeone without the condition being studied who takes part anyway.Read more →.
These are the criteria the study lists. Only the trial siteTrial siteA hospital or clinic where a study is actually run.Read more → can decide whether someone can take part.
From the trial registry
Built from these fields:
- eligibilityModule.minimumAge
- eligibilityModule.maximumAge
- eligibilityModule.sex
- eligibilityModule.healthyVolunteers
How big and how long
The study aims to enrol about 40 people.
The study is currently expected to finish around May 2027.
The main measurement is taken over: The study duration is 4 months, including 1 month of self-administered taVNS. Outcome measuresEndpointThe specific thing a study measures to answer its question.Read more → will be assessed at baselineBaselineYour starting measurements, taken before treatment begins.Read more →, immediately post-treatment (end of week 4) and during follow-ups at Week 8-10 and Week 16.
From the trial registry
Built from these fields:
- designModule.enrollmentInfo.count
- statusModule.completionDateStruct.date
- outcomesModule.primaryOutcomes[].timeFrame
What the study measures
Number of participants with treatment-related adverse eventsAdverse eventAny medical problem that happens during a study, whether or not the treatment caused it.Read more → (AEs); recruitment rate; attendance rate; retention rate — measured over The study duration is 4 months, including 1 month of self-administered taVNS. Outcome measuresEndpointThe specific thing a study measures to answer its question.Read more → will be assessed at baselineBaselineYour starting measurements, taken before treatment begins.Read more →, immediately post-treatment (end of week 4) and during follow-ups at Week 8-10 and Week 16.
From the trial registry
Built from these fields:
- outcomesModule.primaryOutcomes[].measure
- outcomesModule.primaryOutcomes[].timeFrame
Source: NCT07055373 on ClinicalTrials.gov. The full registry text is further down this page — this summary never replaces it.
Not medical advice. What do these terms mean?
What is being tested — in plain terms
About Transauricular Vagal Nerve StimulationDevice
Transauricular VNS will be administered using the Parasym aVNT (auricular vagal neuromodulation therapy) Device (Nurosym, London, UK). The Parasym aVNT Device delivers non-invasive neuromodulation targeting the auricular branch of the vagus nerve via the tragus of the outer ear. All participants will receive four weeks of twice daily (morning and evening) 45-minute sessions of taVNS (frequency ≥ 25Hz; pulse width =250µs (Fig). The safety and tolerability of taVNS has been demonstrated in seven studies with a total of 205 (116 active, 121 sham) cardiovascular patients. Stimulation protocols ranged from 43 min to 8 hrs daily, for 1 day to 6 months. There were no device-related serious adverse events. Three patients (1.5%) experienced minor adverse events, i.e., dermal paresthesias (light tingling at the ear). No differences in tolerability were observed between active and sham taVNS \[21\].
From the trial registry — its own words, unedited.
What a device is here: A physical instrument, implant, app or piece of equipment being studied.
Read the full explanation → · in clinical review
Common questions
Answered from this trial’s registry record. Where the record doesn’t say, these answers say so rather than filling the gap.
Am I eligible for this trial?
Only the trial siteTrial siteA hospital or clinic where a study is actually run.Read more → can decide whether someone can take part. Concord cannot make that determination, and neither can any tool that has not examined you.
What the study lists: an age range of 18 years to 65 years.
The full inclusionInclusion criteriaThe things you must have or be for a study to consider you.Read more → and exclusion criteriaExclusion criteriaThe things that would prevent someone from taking part.Read more → are published on this page, exactly as the study team wrote them.
The useful next step is to bring this trial to your doctor. Answering a few questions first gives them something concrete to review.
From the trial registry
- eligibilityModule.minimumAge
- eligibilityModule.maximumAge
- eligibilityModule.eligibilityCriteria
Is there a placebo?
This study includes a shamSham procedureA procedure made to feel like the real one, without the active step.Read more → comparison — a procedure made to feel like the real one, without the active step.
One group receives an existing treatment so the two can be compared.
From the trial registry
- armsInterventionsModule.armGroups[].type
Would I know which treatment I am getting?
You, the study team, and the people analysing the results would all be kept unaware of which group you are in until the study ends.
Which group you would be placed in is decided by chance, like a coin flip — not by you and not by your doctor.
From the trial registry
- designModule.designInfo.maskingInfo.masking
- designModule.designInfo.allocation
Who can join?
The study lists an age range of 18 years to 65 years.
It is open to people of any sex.
It does not accept healthy volunteersHealthy volunteerSomeone without the condition being studied who takes part anyway.Read more →.
Only the trial siteTrial siteA hospital or clinic where a study is actually run.Read more → can confirm whether a particular person can take part.
From the trial registry
- eligibilityModule.minimumAge
- eligibilityModule.maximumAge
- eligibilityModule.sex
- eligibilityModule.healthyVolunteers
How long would this take?
The study's main measurement is taken over: The study duration is 4 months, including 1 month of self-administered taVNS. Outcome measuresEndpointThe specific thing a study measures to answer its question.Read more → will be assessed at baselineBaselineYour starting measurements, taken before treatment begins.Read more →, immediately post-treatment (end of week 4) and during follow-ups at Week 8-10 and Week 16..
The study as a whole is currently expected to finish around 2027-05-01.
How long any one person takes part can differ from the study length. The study team can tell you what the schedule looks like in practice.
From the trial registry
- outcomesModule.primaryOutcomes[].timeFrame
- statusModule.completionDateStruct.date
How many people are taking part?
The study aims to enrol about 40 people.
From the trial registry
- designModule.enrollmentInfo.count
Where is this happening?
This study lists one location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Sites can open and close during a study, so confirm with the team before travelling.
From the trial registry
- trial_locations
About This Trial
Approximately 50% of people with chronic whiplash-associated disorders (WAD) continue to report the presence of symptoms 12 months post-injury. These symptoms include high levels of pain and disability as well as psychological symptoms such as post-traumatic stress. The nervous system may also be affected, specifically the autonomic nervous system which is responsible for regulating heart rate and blood pressure. An important part of the autonomic system is the vagus nerve, which helps regulate pain and stress responses. Treatment of this nerve via transauricular vagal nerve stimulation (taVNS) has been shown to improve health outcomes in many pain conditions such as chronic low back pain and postural tachycardia syndrome. TaVNS works by sending mild electrical pulses through the ear. This project aims to explore whether or not taVNS can help people with chronic whiplash-associated disorders (WAD) feel better. The first goal is to evaluate the safety and feasibility of taVNS. The investigators are interested in learning how many people with chronic WAD participate in the study and how many complete the full treatment, as well as ensuring that the treatment does not cause any serious side effects. An additional goal is to evaluate the effects of taVNS on neck pain intensity and associated disability, pain sensitivity, heart rate variability, blood pressure, quality of life, post-traumatic stress, stress, anxiety, and depression as measured by questionnaires and physical assessments, as compared to those assigned to the sham treatment.
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See if this trial could fit youThis page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Clinical trial eligibility can only be determined by the trial site after proper screening. Trial information is sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov and may not reflect the most current status. Always consult your healthcare provider before making decisions about clinical trial participation.