The purpose of this study is to determine if clinic and home training with a study device will improve a balance deficit. The study device is called Portable Neuromodulation Stimulator (PoNS). The study device will be placed on the tongue to deliver nerve stimulation. The study is testing if use of the study device in conjunction with physical therapy will improve balance and gait in patients suffering from a TBI. The effects of using the device and undergoing therapy will be measured using standardized tests of movement control, gait, headache and other TBI symptoms.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
122
The PoNS is a medical device worn around the neck. The controller contains the pulse generator and a user interface. The mouthpiece, held to the top of the tongue, contains 143 circular gold electrodes that deliver a mild, controlled electric stimulation to the subject. While the subject is receiving stimulation, they will perform increasingly difficult balance, posture, gait, and movement control tasks designed to challenge existing abilities. Each training session takes approximately one hour to complete, and is separated by an interval of 2-2.5 hours.
The PoNS is a medical device worn around the neck. The controller contains the pulse generator and a user interface. The mouthpiece, held to the top of the tongue, contains 143 circular gold electrodes that deliver a mild, controlled electric stimulation to the subject. The sham control device is physically identical but uses a modified stimulus waveform parameter set designed to elicit a mild tactile sensation while minimizing the net energy delivered, minimizing any neuromodulatory effect. While the subject is receiving stimulation, they will perform increasingly difficult balance, posture, gait, and movement control tasks designed to challenge existing abilities. Each training session takes approximately one hour to complete, and is separated by an interval of 2-2.5 hours.
Orlando Health
Orlando, Florida, United States
Oregon Health and Science University Center for Regenerative Medicine
Portland, Oregon, United States
The Montreal Neurofeedback Center
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Response to treatment defined as an 8 point change in the Sensory Organization Test (SOT) from baseline
The SOT is an objective, automated measure of sensory-motor integration that evaluates the functional contribution of the somatosensory, visual, and vestibular components of balance. A composite score is calculated and compared with a database normalized for age and height.
Time frame: 5 weeks after the start of the intervention
Increase in SOT score from pre-training SOT score at the end of 2 weeks in lab training
Time frame: Two weeks after start of the intervention
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