Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Therapy in Spinal Cord Injury Related Neuropathic Pain

Technology
Pain
Online since 15 April 2025, updated yesterday

About this trial

This trial is enrolling 63 participants with spinal cord injury to test the effect of high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on pain. rTMS is a non-invasive technique which uses a magnetic field to stimulate the brain. A coil (held over the head) delivers the magnetic stimulation that activates the central nervous system. If included, participants will be randomly assigned to receive 20 daily sessions of either: 1) rTMS targeting the front of the brain (dorsolateral prefrontal cortex); 2) rTMS targeting the motor area of the brain (primary motor cortex); or 3) a placebo (sham) treatment. Final testing of pain will be performed after 2 months.

Included participants

Gender
All
Age
18 - 75 years
Injury level
C1 - S5
  • Severity (AIS)?
  • Time since injury
    ≥ 3 months
    Healthy volunteers
    No
    C1-S5
    Additionally, participants must
    NOT have a pacemaker or other metallic implant
    NOT have epilepsy or a neurodegenerative disease

    What’s involved

    Type

    Technology

    Details

    - Participants will be randomly assigned to receive 20 daily sessions of either 1) rTMS targeting the front of the brain (dorsolateral prefrontal cortex), 2) rTMS targeting the motor area of the brain (primary motor cortex), or 3) a placebo (sham) treatment. - rTMS is a non-invasive technique which uses a magnetic field to stimulate the brain. A coil (held over the head) delivers the magnetic stimulation that activates the central nervous system. - Final testing of pain will be performed after 2 months.

    Potential benefits

    Main benefits

    Pain

    Additional benefits

    General health

    Mental health and psychosocial factors

    Spasticity

    Good to know: Potential benefits are defined as outcomes that are being measured during and/or after the trial.

    Wings for Life supports SCITrialsFinder

    Wings for Life has proudly initiated, led and funded the new version of the SCI Trials Finder website. Wings for Life aims to find a cure for spinal cord injuries. The not-for-profit foundation funds world-class scientific research and clinical trials around the globe.

    Learn more

    • Trial recruitment status
    • Recruiting
    • Trial start date
    • 16 Dec 2024
    • Organisation
    • Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University
    • Trial recruitment status
    • Recruiting
    • Trial start date
    • 16 Dec 2024
    • Organisation
    • Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University

    Wings for Life supports SCITrialsFinder

    Wings for Life has proudly initiated, led and funded the new version of the SCI Trials Finder website. Wings for Life aims to find a cure for spinal cord injuries. The not-for-profit foundation funds world-class scientific research and clinical trials around the globe.

    Learn more