DALLAS - January 29, 2026 - A type of therapy that stimulates specific brain pathways with electromagnetic pulses, combined with physical therapy, significantly reduced overall disability in stroke survivors compared to those who received a sham treatment plus physical therapy, according to preliminary research to be presented at the American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference 2026.
The therapy, called electromagnetic network-targeted field (ENTF) therapy, targets interconnected neural networks involved in motor movement, cognition, and other brain functions. “These neural networks show electrical disorganization after a stroke. Stimulating these networks with electromagnetic pulse patterns derived from studies in people who have not had a stroke can model and facilitate the reestablishment of normal network organization,” said lead study author Jeffrey L. Saver, M.D., FAHA, a distinguished professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.
Researchers combined data from two double-blind, randomized, sham-controlled trials involving 124 stroke survivors. Participants were enrolled on average 14 days after stroke and had moderate to severe disability (average modified Rankin Scale score of 3.9). They received 40 to 45 sessions of ENTF therapy or sham treatment over 8 to 12 weeks, along with physical therapy. The analysis found that 33.8% of those receiving ENTF therapy achieved freedom from disability (mRS 0-1) at 90 days, compared to 11.9% in the sham group, a 22% higher rate. Improvements were also seen across the full range of disability outcomes, with less moderate to severe disability. No serious adverse effects were reported.
“It’s clear that we need more effective rehabilitation therapies to fully improve patient outcomes. This promising potential therapy is unique in that it would be able to be conducted at home by the stroke survivor using a portable kit,” Saver said. The therapy began in the hospital and continued with at-home treatments using portable kits.
American Stroke Association volunteer expert Joseph P. Broderick, M.D., FAHA, noted that the results are preliminary and highlighted the need for larger trials with balanced participant groups. “ENTF showed no safety issues, and there’s a strong demand for new recovery methods post-stroke,” said Broderick, a professor at the University of Cincinnati’s Gardner Neuroscience Institute.
The main limitation is that the study is an analysis of data from two small pilot studies. A single, larger trial is needed to confirm these results. Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death and a leading cause of long-term disability in the U.S., according to the American Heart Association’s Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics 2026 Update. The study will be presented at the American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference 2026 in New Orleans, Feb. 4-6.
