Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation Added to Physiotherapy for Adhesive Capsulitis

Recruiting now · Not applicable · Has a placebo group

Conditions studied: Adhesive Capsulitis of the Shoulder

In brief

This randomized, sham-controlled study will evaluate whether transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS), when added to standard physiotherapy, improves pain, shoulder function, range of motion, and quality of life in adults with adhesive capsulitis. A total of 40 participants aged 18 to 65 years will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. Both groups will receive 15 sessions of standard physiotherapy over 3 weeks. In addition, one group will receive active taVNS for 30 minutes per day, while the other group will receive sham stimulation for the same duration and frequency. Assessments will be performed before treatment and after the 15th treatment session using pain, shoulder disability, quality-of-life, and shoulder range-of-motion measurements.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT07711353

Run by

Muhsin Doran

People needed

40

Starts

2026-06-10

Expected to finish

2026-10-01

Last updated by the study team

2026-07-17

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 65. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Age between 18 and 65 years.
• Clinical diagnosis of adhesive capsulitis confirmed by physical examination and, when clinically indicated, imaging.
• Shoulder pain and limitation of shoulder range of motion for at least 3 months.
• Provision of written informed consent.
• General health status sufficient to participate in standard physiotherapy and active or sham transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation.
• Ability to comply with the planned treatment sessions and outcome assessments.

You may not qualify if…

• Shoulder stiffness secondary to trauma, surgery, infection, or tumor.
• Rotator cuff tear, advanced glenohumeral osteoarthritis, or inflammatory rheumatic disease.
• Glucocorticoid injection into the affected shoulder within the previous 3 months.
• Surgical intervention involving the affected shoulder within the previous 6 months.
• Active infection or skin lesion in the shoulder region.
• Cervical radiculopathy, brachial plexopathy, stroke, or another neurological disorder affecting the upper extremity.
• Presence of a cardiac pacemaker or another implanted electronic device.
• Pregnancy or breastfeeding.
• Serious systemic disease or cognitive impairment that may prevent compliance with the study protocol.
• Known intolerance or previous adverse reaction to transcutaneous electrical stimulation.

Where it is running

• Liv hospital Vadistanbul — Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye) (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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