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Published on: February 1, 2018
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Optimization of Transspinal Stimulation Applications for Motor Recovery after Spinal Cord Injury: Scoping Review
Muhammad Uzair Rehman1,2, Dustin Sneed3, Tommy W Sutor1
1Spinal Cord Injury and Disorders, Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center, Richmond, VA 23249, USA.
Journal of Clinical Medicine
|February 11, 2023
Summary
Transspinal stimulation (TSS) shows promise for improving motor function after spinal cord injury (SCI). Optimal outcomes may be achieved with multisite cathodal placements, but further research is needed to refine parameters.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Spinal cord injury (SCI) leads to significant motor deficits, impacting quality of life.
- Transspinal stimulation (TSS) is a non-invasive neuromodulation technique targeting spinal neural circuits.
- Variability in TSS protocols may influence motor function recovery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and summarize existing evidence on TSS parameters and their effect on motor function post-SCI.
- To identify optimal electrode placements and stimulation parameters for enhancing motor responses.
- To guide future research for refining TSS protocols.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature search of PubMed and Google Scholar for studies on TSS and limb motor function.
- Analysis of 34 studies, summarizing electrode placement, stimulation parameters, and motor response.
- Categorization of electrode placements based on targeted limb (upper vs. lower).
Main Results:
- Electrode placement varied, targeting cervical or lumbar enlargements depending on the limb.
- Multisite cathodal placements demonstrated more favorable motor responses than single-site placements.
- The impact of carrier frequency on motor response was inconclusive across studies.
Conclusions:
- Current TSS protocols for SCI exhibit considerable variability in parameters and electrode placement.
- Multisite cathodal placement appears beneficial for motor response.
- Further controlled studies are essential to optimize TSS parameters for SCI motor recovery.
