Spinal cord stimulation improves motor performances in hemiplegics: clinical and neurophysiological study

We studied the effects of spinal cord stimulation (SCS) on motor performances in patients with spastic hemiparesis due to cerebrovascular ischemic accident. 11 patients were evaluated before and after 7 days of SCS by means of the Albert's motor scale and a surface polyelectromyography. SCS significantly improved motor performances in 63% of the patients. It reduced agonist-antagonist coactivation and clonus. Such an effect was particularly evident during voluntary movements and gait.