Transcutaneous electrical spinal stimulation promotes long-term recovery of upper extremity function in chronic tetraplegia

Inanici, F; Samejima, S; Gad, P; Edgerton, VR; Hofstetter, CP; Moritz, CT

Transcutaneous electrical spinal stimulation promotes long-term recovery of upper extremity function in chronic tetraplegia

Inanici, F Samejima, S Gad, P Edgerton, VR Hofstetter, CP Moritz, CT

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering, 2018, 26 (6), pp. 1272 - 1278
Issue Date:: 2018-06-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Inanici, F	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Samejima, S	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Gad, P	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Edgerton, VR	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Hofstetter, CP	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Moritz, CT	en_US
dc.date.issued	2018-06-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering, 2018, 26 (6), pp. 1272 - 1278	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	1534-4320	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/134021
dc.description.abstract	© 2001-2011 IEEE. Upper extremity function is the highest priority of tetraplegics for improving quality of life. We aim to determine the therapeutic potential of transcutaneous electrical spinal cord stimulation for restoration of upper extremity function. We tested the hypothesis that cervical stimulation can facilitate neuroplasticity that results in long-lasting improvement in motor control. A 62-year-old male with C3, incomplete, chronic spinal cord injury (SCI) participated in the study. The intervention comprised three alternating periods: 1) transcutaneous spinal stimulation combined with physical therapy (PT); 2) identical PT only; and 3) a brief combination of stimulation and PT once again. Following four weeks of combined stimulation and physical therapy training, all of the following outcome measurements improved: the Graded Redefined Assessment of Strength, Sensation, and Prehension test score increased 52 points and upper extremity motor score improved 10 points. Pinch strength increased 2- to 7-fold in left and right hands, respectively. Sensation recovered on trunk dermatomes, and overall neurologic level of injury improved from C3 to C4. Most notably, functional gains persisted for over 3 month follow-up without further treatment. These data suggest that noninvasive electrical stimulation of spinal networks can promote neuroplasticity and long-term recovery following SCI.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1109/TNSRE.2018.2834339	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Biomedical Engineering	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Upper Extremity	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Arm	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Hand	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Spinal Cord	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Humans	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Spinal Cord Injuries	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Quadriplegia	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Treatment Outcome	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Recovery of Function	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Evoked Potentials, Motor	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Neuronal Plasticity	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Quality of Life	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Middle Aged	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Male	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Physical Therapy Modalities	en_US
dc.title	Transcutaneous electrical spinal stimulation promotes long-term recovery of upper extremity function in chronic tetraplegia	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	6	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	26	en_US
utslib.for	0903 Biomedical Engineering	en_US
utslib.for	0906 Electrical and Electronic Engineering	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science/School of Life Sciences
utslib.copyright.status	in_progress
pubs.issue	6	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	26	en_US

Abstract:

© 2001-2011 IEEE. Upper extremity function is the highest priority of tetraplegics for improving quality of life. We aim to determine the therapeutic potential of transcutaneous electrical spinal cord stimulation for restoration of upper extremity function. We tested the hypothesis that cervical stimulation can facilitate neuroplasticity that results in long-lasting improvement in motor control. A 62-year-old male with C3, incomplete, chronic spinal cord injury (SCI) participated in the study. The intervention comprised three alternating periods: 1) transcutaneous spinal stimulation combined with physical therapy (PT); 2) identical PT only; and 3) a brief combination of stimulation and PT once again. Following four weeks of combined stimulation and physical therapy training, all of the following outcome measurements improved: the Graded Redefined Assessment of Strength, Sensation, and Prehension test score increased 52 points and upper extremity motor score improved 10 points. Pinch strength increased 2- to 7-fold in left and right hands, respectively. Sensation recovered on trunk dermatomes, and overall neurologic level of injury improved from C3 to C4. Most notably, functional gains persisted for over 3 month follow-up without further treatment. These data suggest that noninvasive electrical stimulation of spinal networks can promote neuroplasticity and long-term recovery following SCI.

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:

http://hdl.handle.net/10453/134021