New Noninvasive Therapy for Spinal Injury Victims
For people living with spinal cord injuries, even small improvements in movement can make a meaningful difference in daily life. In recent years, a technique called transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (tSCS) has shown promise when paired with exercise. tSCS is a noninvasive therapy that sends electrical pulses through the skin over the spine. Many participants in early studies have experienced better movement, strength, and balance.
But one critical question has remained largely unanswered: Can this therapy help people regain precise control of individual joints -- the kind of fine-tuned movement needed for walking, standing, or shifting weight safely?
A research team at Washington University in St. Louis is working to find out. Supported by a new five-year, nearly $3 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the group is launching an ambitious study to understand exactly how tSCS affects the nerves and muscles in the legs.
Why Joint Control Matters
Much of the progress in spinal stimulation research has focused on broad movement, helping someone move their legs or stand with support. But everyday activities require coordinated, joint-by-joint control: lifting a foot, bending a knee, shifting balance, or straightening a leg at just the right moment.
tSCS delivers low-frequency electrical stimulation below the injury site. While this can help activate muscles, it may also disrupt natural sensory feedback, signals that tell the body where it is in space. That feedback is essential for fine motor control. Researchers want to understand how to adjust tSCS so it supports, rather than interferes with, these signals.
What the New Study Will Explore
Previous work with implanted stimulators showed that when specific muscles are activated at the right times, people with spinal cord injuries can walk, cycle, swim, and even paddle a kayak. Now researchers want to know whether similar precision is possible with noninvasive stimulation.
Fine-tuning tSCS may allow researchers to selectively activate specific motor neuron groups during key phases of movement. In other words, stimulation could be customized to help a person lift their foot, bend their knee, or extend their leg exactly when they need it. The long-term vision is clear: to develop noninvasive technologies that help people with spinal cord injuries regain more natural, voluntary movement, without implants or surgery.
Tom Duffy has been a member of the board of Magee Rehabilitation Foundation for over 20 years. He is keenly aware of developments in spinal cord care and has obtained 8-figure verdicts for people who have suffered spinal cord injuries in Philadelphia.
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