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tSCS and AR on Pain and Balance in Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy

1 de junio de 2026 actualizado por: Riphah International University

Combined Effects of Transcutaneous Spinal Cord Stimulation (tSCS) and Augmented Reality (AR) Training on Pain and Balance in Diabetic Neuropathy Patients.

tSCS and AR-based training have individually shown benefits in neuromotor rehabilitation; no study to date has evaluated their combined effects on pain, balance, lower-limb strength, retention, and vibration sense in diabetic neuropathy. The rationale for combining them lies in their complementary mechanisms: tSCS at 30 Hz activates large-diameter Aβ afferents, inhibiting nociceptive input, enhancing spinal excitability, and facilitating motor activation.

Descripción general del estudio

Estado

Aún no reclutando

Descripción detallada

In Pakistan, 26.3% of the population is affected, and DN impacts about 40% of cases, with early signs reducing function. (9-11) Standard care includes glycemic control, medications like duloxetine and pregabalin, topical agents, and modalities such as TENS.

Alongside pain, lower-limb strength declines due to motor axonal degeneration and prolonged disuse, (1) limiting mobility and increasing the risk of falls. Balance impairments are frequent in DN and result from compromised proprioceptive input and impaired postural control mechanisms; (4) these deficits are exacerbated by pain-related inactivity and muscular weakness.

Augmented reality (AR) based rehabilitation delivers multisensory feedback, such as visual, vestibular, and proprioceptive inputs, during interactive, task-specific training. It enhances sensorimotor coordination, dynamic postural stability, and proprioceptive reweighting. AR training can improve balance responses, promote lower-limb engagement, and reinforce accurate proprioceptive input.

The tSCS enabled stepping in individuals with complete motor loss, confirming its impact on lower-limb functional recovery. Additionally, this stimulation frequency targets mechano-sensory pathways associated with vibration sense and is believed to support retention of sensorimotor gains through repeated activation of neuroplastic mechanisms at the spinal and cortical levels.

Tipo de estudio

Intervencionista

Inscripción (Estimado)

36

Fase

  • No aplica

Contactos y Ubicaciones

Esta sección proporciona los datos de contacto de quienes realizan el estudio e información sobre dónde se lleva a cabo este estudio.

Estudio Contacto

Copia de seguridad de contactos de estudio

Ubicaciones de estudio

    • Punjab Province
      • Rawalpindi, Punjab Province, Pakistán
        • Pakistan Railway Hospital

Criterios de participación

Los investigadores buscan personas que se ajusten a una determinada descripción, denominada criterio de elegibilidad. Algunos ejemplos de estos criterios son el estado de salud general de una persona o tratamientos previos.

Criterio de elegibilidad

Edades elegibles para estudiar

  • Adulto
  • Adulto Mayor

Acepta Voluntarios Saludables

No

Descripción

Inclusion Criteria:

  • More than or equals to 4 score on Douleur Neuropathique 4 Questionnaire
  • More than or equals to 6 Hz at Neurothesiometer
  • More than or equals to 4 score on the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS)

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Cognitively compromised (MOCA ≤ 26/30)
  • Metallic implants at skull
  • Shunting
  • Skin allergy

Plan de estudios

Esta sección proporciona detalles del plan de estudio, incluido cómo está diseñado el estudio y qué mide el estudio.

¿Cómo está diseñado el estudio?

Detalles de diseño

  • Propósito principal: Tratamiento
  • Asignación: Aleatorizado
  • Modelo Intervencionista: Asignación paralela
  • Enmascaramiento: Ninguno (etiqueta abierta)

Armas e Intervenciones

Grupo de participantes/brazo
Intervención / Tratamiento
Experimental: Transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation and Augmented Reality Group
Transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation will be administered non-invasively using surface electrodes placed over the D12-L1 spinal segment. This segmental level has been shown to effectively engage lower-limb motor and sensory networks across multiple spinal segments. Stimulation will be delivered using the Soterix 1×1 Transcutaneous Electrical Stimulation (TES) unit. Stimulation will be applied at a frequency range of 30 Hz. Pulse duration of 1 ms, and intensity will be set at 2 mA. A ramp-up and ramp-down time of 30 seconds will be used to enhance participant comfort during the start and end of each stimulation session, following standardized electrode placement and safety protocols.
AR-based rehabilitation will consist of interactive balance and coordination tasks conducted in a virtual environment, with real-time visual feedback provided to guide movement accuracy and postural control. The core training block will include five structured modules: interactive kicking exercises to promote ankle and knee coordination; color-target foot-reaching tasks to enhance proprioception and reaction time; virtual obstacle navigation to improve gait and stepping control; static and dynamic balance challenges, such as maintaining posture on virtual planks; and lower-limb strengthening activities, including squats and stepping-based games. Each module will be performed for 5-8 minutes, with brief rest periods between tasks.
Comparador activo: Augmented Reality Group
AR-based rehabilitation will consist of interactive balance and coordination tasks conducted in a virtual environment, with real-time visual feedback provided to guide movement accuracy and postural control. The core training block will include five structured modules: interactive kicking exercises to promote ankle and knee coordination; color-target foot-reaching tasks to enhance proprioception and reaction time; virtual obstacle navigation to improve gait and stepping control; static and dynamic balance challenges, such as maintaining posture on virtual planks; and lower-limb strengthening activities, including squats and stepping-based games. Each module will be performed for 5-8 minutes, with brief rest periods between tasks.
Comparador activo: Transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation Group
Transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation will be administered non-invasively using surface electrodes placed over the D12-L1 spinal segment. This segmental level has been shown to effectively engage lower-limb motor and sensory networks across multiple spinal segments. Stimulation will be delivered using the Soterix 1×1 Transcutaneous Electrical Stimulation (TES) unit. Stimulation will be applied at a frequency range of 30 Hz. Pulse duration of 1 ms, and intensity will be set at 2 mA. A ramp-up and ramp-down time of 30 seconds will be used to enhance participant comfort during the start and end of each stimulation session, following standardized electrode placement and safety protocols.

¿Qué mide el estudio?

Medidas de resultado primarias

Medida de resultado
Medida Descripción
Periodo de tiempo
Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS)
Periodo de tiempo: Up to week 5 (baseline/week 1/week 5)
The Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) is a quick, 11-point measure (0 = no pain to 10 = worst imaginable) commonly used across clinical and research settings. Recent studies demonstrate test-retest reliability ranging from 0.58 to 0.93 (good to excellent), with moderate evidence for a minimal clinically important difference (MCID) of 1.5-2.5 points.
Up to week 5 (baseline/week 1/week 5)
Time Up and Go (TUG)
Periodo de tiempo: Up to week 5 (Baseline/week 1/week 5)
The TUG test is a simple, clinically validated tool used to assess dynamic balance and functional mobility. It requires an individual to rise from a seated position, walk three meters, turn, return, and sit down. The TUG demonstrated excellent test-retest reliability, with intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) ranging from 0.89 to 0.94 across multiple trials.
Up to week 5 (Baseline/week 1/week 5)

Medidas de resultado secundarias

Medida de resultado
Medida Descripción
Periodo de tiempo
30 Second Chair Stand Test
Periodo de tiempo: Up to week 5 (Baseline/week 1/week 5)
The 30-Second Chair Stand Test is a widely used, performance-based tool for assessing lower-limb strength and functional mobility. Among individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus, a population commonly affected by diabetic neuropathy, the test has demonstrated excellent reliability. A test-retest intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of 0.92, indicating excellent relative reliability. In terms of measurement precision, the standard error of measurement (SEM) was 1.08 repetitions, and the smallest real difference (SRD) was 3 repetitions, reflecting the threshold for clinically meaningful change.
Up to week 5 (Baseline/week 1/week 5)
Neurothesiometer
Periodo de tiempo: Up to week 5 (Baseline/Week 1/week 5)
The neurothesiometer is a non-invasive and reliable instrument used to assess vibration perception threshold (VPT). It has demonstrated excellent reliability, with intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs) exceeding 0.90, indicating strong measurement consistency. A VPT cut-off value of ≥ 6 Hz is indicative of neuropathy. Owing to its ease of use, objective quantification, and ability to detect subclinical neuropathy, the neurothesiometer is highly valuable in clinical practice. Its superior standardization makes it a preferred method for evaluating protective sensation and vibration loss, particularly in individuals with diabetes.
Up to week 5 (Baseline/Week 1/week 5)

Colaboradores e Investigadores

Aquí es donde encontrará personas y organizaciones involucradas en este estudio.

Investigadores

  • Investigador principal: Mirza Obaid Baig, MSPT, Riphah International University

Publicaciones y enlaces útiles

La persona responsable de ingresar información sobre el estudio proporciona voluntariamente estas publicaciones. Estos pueden ser sobre cualquier cosa relacionada con el estudio.

Publicaciones Generales

Fechas de registro del estudio

Estas fechas rastrean el progreso del registro del estudio y los envíos de resultados resumidos a ClinicalTrials.gov. Los registros del estudio y los resultados informados son revisados ​​por la Biblioteca Nacional de Medicina (NLM) para asegurarse de que cumplan con los estándares de control de calidad específicos antes de publicarlos en el sitio web público.

Fechas importantes del estudio

Inicio del estudio (Estimado)

15 de junio de 2026

Finalización primaria (Estimado)

31 de diciembre de 2026

Finalización del estudio (Estimado)

31 de enero de 2027

Fechas de registro del estudio

Enviado por primera vez

30 de abril de 2026

Primero enviado que cumplió con los criterios de control de calidad

1 de junio de 2026

Publicado por primera vez (Actual)

2 de junio de 2026

Actualizaciones de registros de estudio

Última actualización publicada (Actual)

2 de junio de 2026

Última actualización enviada que cumplió con los criterios de control de calidad

1 de junio de 2026

Última verificación

1 de junio de 2026

Más información

Términos relacionados con este estudio

Plan de datos de participantes individuales (IPD)

¿Planea compartir datos de participantes individuales (IPD)?

NO

Información sobre medicamentos y dispositivos, documentos del estudio

Estudia un producto farmacéutico regulado por la FDA de EE. UU.

No

Estudia un producto de dispositivo regulado por la FDA de EE. UU.

No

Esta información se obtuvo directamente del sitio web clinicaltrials.gov sin cambios. Si tiene alguna solicitud para cambiar, eliminar o actualizar los detalles de su estudio, comuníquese con register@clinicaltrials.gov. Tan pronto como se implemente un cambio en clinicaltrials.gov, también se actualizará automáticamente en nuestro sitio web. .

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