Electrical Stimulation for Facial Pain in Motor Neuron Disease

This study is looking at how a type of electrical stimulation, called Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS), might help people with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) or Primary Lateral Sclerosis (PLS) who experience facial pain and difficulty moving their jaw. TENS involves placing small pads on your face to deliver gentle electrical pulses. The main goal is to see if TENS can reduce facial pain and improve jaw movement. Researchers also want to know if it helps with daily tasks like oral hygiene. You could be eligible if you have a diagnosis of ALS or PLS and report jaw pain of 3 out of 10 or higher. The study will measure your pain levels before and after the TENS treatment to see if it helps.

Study design
This is an interventional study planning to enroll 10 participants with ALS or PLS. It is a cross-sectional study, meaning data is collected at a single point in time.
What's involved
You would attend one in-person clinic visit lasting about 90 minutes, which includes assessments and a single 30-minute TENS treatment. You will also have one telephone interview 24 hours after the treatment.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
You will be followed for 24 hours after the intervention, with a telephone interview to assess pain and oral hygiene difficulty.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT07187388

Investigating the Impact of Electrical Stimulation on Facial Pain, Jaw Movement and Oral Health in People With Motor Neuron Disease.

Recruiting
NAAges 18+InterventionalTreatment
Nova Southeastern University
~10 participants
Updated 2026-05-27 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation to reduce facial pain and improve jaw range of motion in ALS and PLS

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Numerical Rating Scale for Pain
Measured over Baseline, immediately post-intervention and 24 hours post-intervention
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
Primary Lateral Sclerosis (PLS)
Motor Neuron Disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

NCT07187388

Where you'd take part

This study runs at 1 site. They're the same protocol — you choose where, and that choice sets who your contact draft is addressed to.

  • Nova Southeastern University, David and Cathy Husman Neuroscience Institute

    Davie, Floridastudy coordinator listed

    Recruiting

Sites open and close at different times, so the status above is per site — it can differ from the study's overall status.

Opens a ready-to-send draft in your own email app — review before sending.

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

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

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
  • Numerical Rating Scale for PainBaseline, immediately post-intervention and 24 hours post-intervention

    0-10 numeric rating scale where participants will self rate their pain on a scale of 0-10 with 0 = no pain and 10 = worst possible pain.