Neuromodulation in Spinal Cord Injury Using Transcutaneous Spinal Stimulation-Mapping for a Blood Pressure Response:...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cardiovascular Physiology
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• High-level spinal cord injury (SCI) often causes autonomic dysreflexia, leading to unstable blood pressure (BP).
• Spinal cord transcutaneous stimulation (scTS) is a potential method to improve cardiovascular regulation in SCI individuals.
• Current scTS research lacks standardized stimulation sites, leading to variable outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the hemodynamic effects of scTS at different vertebral locations in individuals with chronic cervical SCI.
• To identify optimal stimulation sites for enhancing BP regulation in SCI.

Main Methods:

• A case series study involving eight participants with chronic cervical SCI.
• scTS was applied to various vertebral regions, from cervical to sacral.
• Hemodynamic responses, specifically BP changes, were monitored.

Main Results:

• Stimulation of the lumbosacral vertebrae region (L1/2, S1/2, T11/12) significantly elevated BP.
• Cervical and upper thoracic stimulation did not produce a significant BP elevation.
• The positive effect of lumbosacral stimulation on BP was consistent across participants.

Conclusions:

• Lumbosacral spinal cord transcutaneous stimulation demonstrates a significant and consistent ability to elevate BP in individuals with cervical SCI.
• Targeting the lumbosacral region for scTS presents a promising strategy for neuromodulating BP and managing cardiovascular instability in SCI.