PoNS® Therapy for Gait and Balance Deficits in Chronic Stroke Survivors: A Single-Arm Study

January 7, 2026 updated by: Helius Medical Inc

Portable Neuromodulation Stimulator (PoNS®) Therapy for Gait and Balance Deficits in Chronic Stroke Survivors: A Single-Arm Study

Primary Objective: To further evaluate the aspects of safety related to PoNS therapy in chronic stroke survivors.

Secondary Objectives: To further evaluate the efficacy of PoNS on improving dynamic gait and balance, establishing durability of effect, risk of falling and fall rate. As well as adherence to PoNS device utilization.

Exploratory Objectives: To further evaluate quality of life to measure physical, mental, behavioral, and general health, as well as functional decline (> 30% on gait or balance improvement at endpoint) during the 12-week follow-up.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Active, not recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Observational, interventional, single-arm, open label, clinical trial investigating PoNS utilization with combined with dynamic gait and balance rehabilitation exercise (DGB training) in chronic stroke survivors.

6 The data from this prospective, single arm, multi-site, study that will enroll 30 subjects at 3 different clinical sites will be used to augment safety data obtained in the RCT (which will randomize 60 patients 1:1 into either active PoNS combined with DGB training versus DGB training with a sham device). The totality of the proposed clinical evidence spans 3-4 sites and approximately 90 patients.

Eligible study participants in this study will be assigned to treatment with a PoNS device ["active"]. Participants will work with a study physical therapist - trained on PoNS Therapy by HMI Medical and registered as a PoNS Trainer (Trainer). The Trainer will prepare a DGB training exercise program appropriate to the participant's ability level and instruct on how to perform the breathing and awareness (mindfulness) training (BAT). To ensure patient's safety during rehabilitation at home, the Trainer may assign a DGB training program slightly different from the one performed in clinic.

All participants will undergo a total of twelve weeks of DGB training program, performed both in clinic (4 weeks, Part 1), supervised by the Trainer, and at home (8 weeks, Part 2), unsupervised. At the end of the treatment period, they will be asked to return to the clinic site for the follow-up visit 12 weeks after the end of the treatment period, as shown below:

During the training sessions in clinic and, subsequently, during at-home training period, the trainer can adjust /flex the DGB training based on the participant's individual response to PoNS Therapy. During Phase 2, the Trainer will follow-up weekly with participants either in person, or through a telemedicine session, if patient is unavailable to travel to the clinic.

Twelve weeks after completing the 12-week treatment phase of the study, participants will be required to return to the clinic for the final assessment of treatment effect. During the 12-week follow-up period (Part 3), participants will no longer utilize PoNS device but will still be encouraged to continue with their physical rehabilitation program for the duration follow-up period until the final study visit.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
30

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Florida
      • Jacksonville, Florida, United States, 32216
        • Brooks Rehabilitation
    • Georgia
      • Atlanta, Georgia, United States, 30309
        • Shepherd Center
    • Massachusetts
      • Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02129
        • MGH Institute of Health Professions
      • Foxborough, Massachusetts, United States, 02035
        • Neurology Center of New England, P.C.
    • New York
      • Tarrytown, New York, United States, 10591
        • Rehabologym Corp

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Men and women ≥ 18 and < 85 years of age with a diagnosis ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke at > 6 months since stroke onset event.
  2. FMA-LE scores < 34 at screening with residual paresis in the lower extremity.
  3. Able to walk at least 10 feet with or without assistive device.
  4. FGA score < 23 at screening.
  5. Montreal Cognitive Assessment 5-min (MoCA 5-min) ≥ 6
  6. Able to understand, learn and apply instructions on how to operate the PoNS device and perform the rehabilitation exercise program.

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Pre-existing neurological disorders or previous stroke affecting the other hemisphere.
  2. Severe arthritis or orthopedic problems that limit passive range of motion.
  3. Areas of recent bleeding or open wounds; or areas that lack normal sensation on the tongue.
  4. Diagnosis of dementia or mild cognitive impairment
  5. Concurrent daily use of transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS) and/or other peripheral stimulation devices (i.e. Bioness®)
  6. Neurostimulation therapy over the previous 6 months
  7. Cancer treatment within the past year.
  8. Nonremovable metal orthodontic devices.
  9. Oral health problems.
  10. Chronic infectious diseases.
  11. Pregnancy.
  12. Sensitivity to nickel, gold or copper.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Other: Single Arm
open label administration of translingual neurostimulation.
Device: Portable Neuromodulation Stimulator (PoNS)
The active PoNS device delivers amplitude-controlled, biphasic pulses to the anterior superior surface of the tongue through gold-plated electrodes.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Primary safety endpoints
Time Frame: 12 week
treatment - related serious adverse events (SAE) over 12 week treatment
12 week

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Helius Medical Inc

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
May 1, 2024

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
April 30, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
September 30, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
March 18, 2024

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
March 26, 2024

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
March 29, 2024

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
January 8, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
January 7, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
September 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • HMI-SA-PoNS-STK001

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

Yes

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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