Recruiting

Electrical Stimulation

Sponsor:

Nova Southeastern University

Code:

NCT07187388

Conditions

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

Primary Lateral Sclerosis (PLS)

Motor Neuron Disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation to reduce facial pain and improve jaw range of motion in ALS and PLS

Study Details

Brief summary:

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the impact of non-invasive electrical stimulation, when placed on the facial muscles can reduce facial pain and improve jaw mobility, and chewing in individuals with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and Primary Lateral Sclerosis (PLS). The secondary goal is to evaluate the impact of non-invasive electrical stimulation on patient reported difficulty performing oral hygiene tasks in individuals with ALS and PLS. Participants will attend one in-person clinic visit and participate in one telephone interview 24 hours after the treatment. The clinic visit will include pre-intervention assessments, a single 30-minute treatment of electrical stimulation followed by post-intervention assessments.

The assessments will include a self-rating of jaw and facial pain, a range of motion test where participants will be asked to open their jaw as wide and as far to the side as possible, and a chewing efficiency test using a saltine cracker. Twenty-four hours later, participants will receive a follow-up phone call to self-rate their facial pain and report any difficulty performing oral hygiene tasks.

The treatment consists of a single 30-minute electrical stimulation session. Electrode pads will be placed on the participant's facial region, specifically over the masseter muscle belly and the TMJ area, while the participant is seated comfortably. The pads will be connected to an FDA-approved electrical stimulator, and the current will be adjusted to the participant's comfort level. Once set, the participant will remain seated for 30 minutes. At the end of the session, the stimulator will be turned off and the electrode pads removed.

Conditions

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

Primary Lateral Sclerosis (PLS)

Motor Neuron Disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Study ID

NCT07187388

Start date

Apr 2, 2026

Status verified date

May, 2026

Completion date

Aug 13, 2026

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Aug 13, 2026

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Diagnosis of possible, probable, or definite ALS (El-Escorial Revisited) OR diagnosis of definite PLS by the treating neurologist and based on the consensus diagnostic criteria for PLS
  • Subjective report of jaw pain, indicated by a NRS score of > or = 3/10.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • history of head or neck cancer
  • history of CVA
  • history of past facial surgery with hardware placement
  • history of pacemaker
  • diagnosis of significant cognitive impairment by the treating physician
  • history of seizures or diagnosis of epilepsy
  • open wound at the area of electrode placement
  • complete loss of sensation at the area of electrode placement

Study Design

Enrollment

10 participants

Anticipated

Intervention Model

Single group

Primary purpose

Treatment

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

experimental: Transcutaneous electrical stimulation to reduce facial pain and improve jaw ROM in ALS and PLS.

All 10 participants will receive a single TENS intervention, with electrodes placed over the masseter and TMJ regions. This intervention is designed to evaluate TENS as a potential treatment for reducing facial pain and improving jaw mobility and chewing function in individuals with ALS and PLS..

Interventions

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation to reduce facial pain and improve jaw range of motion in ALS and PLS

TENS intervention will be administered using a current-controlled TENS device that produces charge-balanced, symmetrical biphasic rectangular pulses. Participants will be seated and skin cleaned prior to applying 2 self-adhesive round surface electrodes (25mm) on each side of the face. One electrode (anode) will be placed over the masseter muscle belly, while the other (cathode) will be positioned over the TMJ. Electrode placement will be confirmed by palpation of the TMJ and Masseter. This set up will be mirrored on the opposite side. Once all 4 electrodes are in place, the TENS unit will be turned on.

Participants will remain seated. The TENS unit will be set to manual mode to deliver the stimulation at a frequency of 50 Hertz (Hz) and a pulse width of 200 microseconds (µseconds). Stimulation amplitudes will be gradually increased from 0 milliamps (mA) to each participant's tolerance level. The 30 minute TENS intervention will then take place.

Primary outcome measure

  • Numerical Rating Scale for Pain [ Time Frame: Baseline, immediately post-intervention and 24 hours post-intervention ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Raquel Garcia, SLP.D, CCC-SLP, BCS-S

954-914-5447rw602@nova.edu

Locations

Nova Southeastern University, David and Cathy Husman Neuroscience Institute

Recruiting

Davie, Florida, United States, 33314

Contacts

Raquel Garcia, SLP.D, CCC-SLP, BCS-S

954-914-5447rw602@nova.edu

More Information

Sponsor

Nova Southeastern University

Last update posted

May 27, 2026

Last verified

May, 2026

Keywords

  • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
  • Primary Lateral Sclerosis
  • ALS
  • PLS
  • Motor Neuron Disease
  • MND
  • Facial Pain
  • jaw pain

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-09. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by Nova Southeastern University on 2026-05-27.