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Updated: Jan 26, 2026

Paradigms of Lower Extremity Electrical Stimulation Training After Spinal Cord Injury
Published on: February 1, 2018
Electrical stimulation for neuroregeneration in urology: a new therapeutic paradigm
Brian M Balog1,2,3, Kangli Deng4, Vinod Labhasetwar1
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic.
Purpose Of Review:
The present review highlights regenerative electrical stimulation (RES) as potential future treatment options for patients with nerve injuries leading to urological dysfunction, such as urinary incontinence, voiding dysfunction or erectile dysfunction. Additionally, it will highlight the mechanism of nerve injury and regeneration as well as similarities and differences between RES and current electrical stimulation treatments in urology, functional electrical stimulation (FES) and neuromodulation.
Recent Findings:
It has been demonstrated that RES upregulates brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its receptor to facilitate neuroregeneration, facilitating accurate reinnervation of muscles by motoneurons. Further, RES upregulates growth factors in glial cells. Within the past 2 years, RES of the pudendal nerve upregulated BDNF in Onuf's nucleus, the cell bodies of motoneurons that course through the pudendal nerve and accelerated functional recovery in an animal model of stress urinary incontinence. Additionally, electrical stimulation of the vaginal tissue in an animal model of stress urinary incontinence accelerated functional recovery.
Summary:
RES has great potential but future research is needed to expand the potential beneficial effects of RES in the field of urology.
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