Where to get PoNS-type therapy outside the United States
Outside the United States and Canada the PoNS® device is not sold, so patients who read about it usually cannot get it at home. The same technology — translingual neurostimulation (TLNS) — is available as a full rehabilitation course in two countries: Russia (RehaLine center, Moscow region) and Uzbekistan (Moscow Medical Clinic, Tashkent). Patients from any country can come for a two-week supervised phase and then continue at home with their own device. This page explains who the course is for, how it is organised for international patients and how to start.
Check whether the course is right for you
Send the diagnosis, age and country. A RehaLine physician reviews the case, tells you frankly whether TLNS is indicated and sends the full cost of the program.
Ask on Telegram Send a messageOr write to info@4stim.com. We reply within two business days.
Why PoNS® is hard to get outside North America
PoNS® is prescription-only and is distributed by its manufacturer through authorised clinics in the United States and Canada. In the U.S. it is cleared for gait deficit in multiple sclerosis and for chronic gait deficit after stroke; the device costs $28,270 at list price, before any clinic fees (see PoNS device cost). Patients in Europe, Latin America, the Middle East or Asia cannot buy or rent it locally. TLNS, however, is not a single brand: RehaLine's TLNS system is a separate device from the same scientific school at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, registered in Russia, Mexico, Uzbekistan and New Zealand.
Where you can take a TLNS course
| Country | Clinic | What is available |
|---|---|---|
| Russia | RehaLine rehabilitation center, Moscow region | Supervised TLNS course for adults and children, training for the home program, repeat cycles |
| Uzbekistan | Moscow Medical Clinic (MMC), Tashkent — part of RehaLine Group | Supervised TLNS course for adults and children, training for the home program, repeat cycles |
Both clinics work to the same RehaLine protocols. Which one suits you depends on your route, entry requirements for your citizenship and where follow-up visits are easier for you; we help you choose after reviewing your case.
Who the course is for
TLNS is used together with targeted exercises — it amplifies rehabilitation, it does not replace it. We accept patients with:
- balance and gait problems after traumatic brain injury, including chronic cases that stopped improving with physiotherapy;
- stroke with impaired walking, balance or arm function;
- cerebral palsy in children from two years of age and in adults;
- multiple sclerosis up to EDSS 6.0 inclusive;
- Parkinson's disease and parkinsonism with tremor-dominant or rigid forms;
- balance disorders of vestibular or cerebellar origin, including ataxia after surgery for acoustic neuroma.
Before you travel, a specialist reviews your medical records and tells you frankly whether TLNS is indicated. If it is not, we say so.
How it works for an international patient
- Send your case. Write to our assistant on Telegram or to info@4stim.com: diagnosis, age, main problems, recent discharge summaries or MRI reports.
- Online consultation. A RehaLine physician reviews the documents, discusses goals with you and confirms whether the course is appropriate.
- Quote and dates. You receive the full cost of the program and agree on the clinic and dates.
- Supervised phase in the clinic — two weeks, with two sessions a day of exercise therapy combined with stimulation, about two hours each. In this phase you or a family member learn to run the sessions on your own.
- Home program. You go home with your own device and an exercise plan and continue the sessions at home with remote follow-up. For children with cerebral palsy, treatment is organised in 10-day cycles that can be repeated every 6–12 months.
What it costs
A full course — device, supervised phase and remote follow-up — costs several times less than the PoNS® device alone. The exact amount depends on the clinic, the indication and the length of the supervised phase, so we quote it for your case after the consultation, with nothing added later. The device stays with the patient, so repeat cycles do not require buying it again. Travel and accommodation are not included.
Is it the same as PoNS®?
It is the same method, not the same product. Both devices deliver patterned electrical stimulation to the tongue to activate the brainstem and cerebellum during exercise, and both come from the Wisconsin research group of Paul Bach-y-Rita and Yuri Danilov. They are made by different companies, have different regulatory approvals and are not interchangeable as products. See the TLNS vs PoNS comparison and the 58 publications behind the method.
Frequently asked questions
Can I do the whole course at home without travelling?
No. The first phase is supervised in the clinic: the stimulation has to be combined with the right exercises, and you need to learn to do this safely. After that the course continues at home.
How long do I need to stay?
Two weeks for the supervised phase in the clinic, with two sessions of exercise therapy and stimulation a day, about two hours each. After that the program continues at home.
Can a child travel for the course?
Yes. Children with cerebral palsy are treated from two years of age; one parent stays with the child and is trained to continue the program at home.
I live in the United States. Can I take part?
Yes, by travelling to one of the clinics. The RehaLine device is not FDA-cleared and is not offered for sale in the United States.
What documents should I prepare?
The diagnosis, recent discharge summaries, MRI or CT reports, a list of current medications and a short description of what has been tried so far. A specialist will ask for anything else that is needed.
PoNS® and PoNS Therapy® are trademarks of their respective owner. 4STIM and RehaLine Group are not affiliated with Bioness Medical, Helius Medical Technologies or their partners; product names are used only to identify the product discussed. The RehaLine TLNS device is not cleared by the U.S. FDA and is not offered for sale in the United States. Treatment decisions are made individually by a physician; results vary between patients.