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Cumulative Transcutaneous Spinal Stimulation with Locomotor Training Safely Improves Trunk Control in Children with
Liubov Amirova1,2, Anastasia Keller3, Goutam Singh1,2,4,5
1Kentucky Spinal Cord Injury Research Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA.
Children (Basel, Switzerland)
|July 29, 2025
Summary
Combining spinal cord transcutaneous stimulation (scTS) with activity-based locomotor training (AB-LT) is safe and feasible for children with spinal cord injury (SCI). This approach improved trunk control in a pilot study, suggesting potential synergistic benefits for rehabilitation.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Pediatric Physical Therapy
Background:
- Spinal cord injury (SCI) rehabilitation benefits from non-invasive therapies like spinal cord transcutaneous stimulation (scTS).
- Children with SCI are prone to neuromuscular scoliosis due to paralysis and growth.
- scTS can aid upright posture and trunk control in SCI patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the safety and feasibility of combining activity-based locomotor training (AB-LT) with scTS in children with SCI.
- To assess the cumulative effects of this combined intervention on trunk control.
Main Methods:
- Three children with SCI underwent 19 to 64 sessions of combined AB-LT and scTS.
- Adverse effects were monitored, and trunk control was assessed pre- and post-intervention.
Main Results:
- 88.5% of sessions were free from adverse events across 130 interventions.
- Minor adverse events included autonomic dysreflexia, skin redness, and headaches.
- All participants showed improved trunk control in sitting, with no significant impact on fatigue or hemodynamics.
Conclusions:
- This pilot study provides initial evidence for the safety and feasibility of combined AB-LT and scTS in pediatric SCI.
- Monitoring skin integrity and autonomic dysreflexia is crucial.
- The intervention shows promise for synergistic benefits, meriting further research for efficacy and protocol optimization.
