PoNS Treatment™
What is the PoNS Treatment™ program?
PoNS™ (short for Portable Neuromodulation Stimulator) is an innovative, non-surgical medical device that gently stimulates the surface of the tongue, exciting the neural network flowing to the brain. This neural activity is believed to enable neuroplasticity, which may restore lost function. In conjunction with targeted therapeutic activities, the PoNS™ has the potential to restore:
- Balance in individuals with chronic balance deficit due to a mild or moderate traumatic brain injury or concussion.
- Gait in individuals with gait deficit due to mild to moderate symptoms of multiple sclerosis.
How long is the PoNS Treatment™ program?
PoNS Treatment™ is a comprehensive 14-week program that combines in-clinic and in-home use of the PoNS™ device guided by a Certified PoNS™ Trainer.
Following your initial consultations, you will participate in a series of assessments to set a baseline, so you and your Certified PoNS™ Trainer can measure your progress throughout PoNS Treatment™. Assessments may evaluate functions related to balance, gait, walking speed, dexterity, strength and mobility, as well as cognitive measures, sleep quality and headache incidence.
What outcomes are possible?
- Approximately 74% of the patients who completed the 14 weeks of PoNS Treatment™ in the Long-Term Treatment Trial experienced significant improvement in their balance¹. Patients also showed meaningful improvements in their gait and walking endurance².
- In a study of 20 patients with multiple sclerosis, it was shown using the PoNS™ device in combination with physical therapy over 14 weeks led to a significant improvement in gait, as compared to physical therapy alone. 95% of all study patients experienced improvement in their gait however, the PoNS Treatment™ group, on average, two times more improvement in their gait scores¹.
¹Helius Medical Technologies. Data on File. 2019 Post Hoc Analysis – Long Term Treatment Trial – Responder rate – Pharma Data Associates
²Tyler M, et al. Arch Res Rehabil Clin Transl. 2019; 1(3-4):10026.
¹Leonard G, et al. Multiple Sclerosis Journal–Experimental, Translational and Clinical. 2017; 3(1):2055217317690561.
