PoNS Therapy™
Are you looking for an effective way to improve your balance and gait? If so, Pons therapy may be the answer for you. Pons therapy is a relatively new form of treatment that has been shown to be very effective in restoring loss function. So if you want to learn more about this exciting new treatment option, keep reading!
Pillars of Wellness is proud to be the only clinic in South Western Ontario and Halton region to offer PoNS Therapy™. Our certified Pons trainers are also certified neuro physiotherapists and occupational therapists with decades of experience in neuro rehabilitation, treating multiple sclerosis (MS), brain injury, post stroke and spinal cord disorders.
About The PoNS Therapy™ 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
What Is PoNS Therapy™?
The PoNS Therapy™ (short for Portable Neuromodulation Stimulator) is an innovative medical device, inclusive of a controller and mouthpiece, which delivers mild electrical stimulation to the surface of the tongue.
Who Can Benefit From The PoNS Therapy™?
Any individual living with chronic or persistent symptoms resulting from a mild or moderate traumatic brain injury (TBi) or multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis. Often, the individual may notice a significant impact on their functional capacity to return to work and overall quality of life.
The PoNS™ device is intended for use in conjunction with physical therapy as a short-term (14-week) program treatment that combines in-clinic and in-home use of the PoNS™ device guided by a Certified PoNS™ Trainer. The treatment will focus on:
- Chronic balance deficit due to mild-to-moderate traumatic brain injury
- Gait deficit due to mild and moderate symptoms from MS
It is indicated for individuals between 18 and 65 years of age. Set up a free consultation with us now to determine if you are eligible to the PoNS therapy™ and if it is right for you.
Approximately 74% of the patients who completed the 14 weeks of PoNS therapy™ in the Long-Term Treatment Trial experienced significant improvement in their balance¹. Patients also showed meaningful improvements in their gait and walking endurance².
See below the progress of an MS patient after 5 weeks only of the Pons treatment™.
What To Expect During The PoNS Therapy™ Assessments?
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 Therapy™.
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 Next?
If you or a loved one is suffering from MS, we urge you to contact us and book your first appointment. Pons therapy has been shown to be an effective treatment for MS and can help improve quality of life.
For those who have suffered a brain injury, pons therapy may also provide rehabilitation benefits.
We are excited to offer this cutting-edge technology to our patients and look forward to seeing them recover their health and independence. Our certified Pons™ trainer are here to help and support you in your recovery.
Pricing And Financing
At Pillars of Wellness, we offer three versions of the 14-week program with different amounts of touch-time with the PoNS™ trainer. Prices are scaled accordingly. Contact us to learn more.
PoNS Therapy™ program fees can be paid in monthly instalments, allowing clients to try PoNS Therapy™ for one month and see how they respond.
Some or all of the PoNS Therapy™ program fees may be covered by your insurance provider. Contact us to learn more.
Financing is available to Canadian citizens. Click here to apply.
Contact us for a free consultation. When considering PoNS™ Therapy, you will start by meeting one of our certified pons trainer for an initial consult visit. This consultation is free.
FAQ
PoNS Therapy™ is only offered at Authorized PoNS Treatment™Clinics like Pillars of Wellness. These clinics are selected based on their experience treating neurologic symptoms such as balance and gait deficits. A Certified PoNS™ Trainer works with each patient according to their own specific needs and deficits during PoNS Treatment™.
After the initial consultation, we will arrange a 20 to 30 minutes call or meeting at the clinic to discuss if you are eligible or not. A few factors are to be taken in consideration prior taking the PoNS treatment™.
The PoNS™ device delivers electrical stimulation directly to the surface of the tongue. Precautions for use are similar to those for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS).
Electrical stimulation SHOULD NOT be used: if there is an active or suspected malignant tumor, in areas of recent bleeding or open wounds, or in areas that lack normal sensation.
PoNS™ has not been tested on, and thus should not be used, by individuals under the age of 18 or who are pregnant. PoNS™ should not be used in patients sensitive to nickel, gold, or copper.
Use with caution
Electrical stimulation should only be used after seeking professional medical advice, and with caution in patients with any of the following:
- Implanted electronic devices, including cardiac pacemakers, cardioverter defibrillators, deep brain stimulators, vagal nerve stimulators, sacral nerve stimulators, and cochlear implants
- Metal in the mouth (e.g. piercings, braces, retainers, or other orthodontic appliance)
- Seizure disorders
- Epilepsy
In patients with chronic balance deficit due to mild-to-moderate traumatic brain injury (mmTBI, including concussion or post-concussive syndrome), PoNS™ was studied in conjunction with targeted physical therapy in two clinical trials involving 165 patients1,2
Of those who completed the 14 weeks of PoNS Therapy™ in the Long-Term Treatment Trial, approximately 74% of patients experienced significant improvement in their balance¹.
Patients also showed meaningful improvements in their gait and walking endurance, which they maintained after the 12-week withdrawal of treatment2.
Both clinical trial results to date indicate the effectiveness of the PoNS™ device, when paired with physical exercise, to meaningfully improve the balance and gait of most patients after their mmTBI1,2.
Where can I find more information?
Archives of Rehabilitation Research and Clinical Translation | September 27, 2019
Neuromodulation: Technology at the Neural Interface | March 23, 2020
European Medical Journal: Radiology | September 1, 2020
The PoNS™ device was studied in two clinical trials in relation to multiple sclerosis.
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, had 2x improvement in their gait scores¹.
A neuroimaging study of 14 MS patients tested the effects of non-surgical tongue stimulation using the PoNS™ device, combined with cognitive and physical rehabilitation, on their memory, gait, balance and concomitant changes in the brain.
The PoNS Therapy™ group showed significant improvement from the baseline, suggesting that PoNS™ stimulation can enhance motor performance and working memory, while also driving neuroplasticity².
*PoNS is not intended to treat memory impairment. PoNS is intended for use as a short term treatment (14 weeks) of gait deficit due to mild and moderate symptoms from MS.
Where can I find more information?
The Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation | May 1, 2014
Multiple Sclerosis Journal Experimental, Translational and Clinical | December 23, 2016