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Updated: May 8, 2026

Paradigms of Lower Extremity Electrical Stimulation Training After Spinal Cord Injury
Published on: February 1, 2018
Spinal Cord Stimulation Immediately Improves Strength, Arm Function and Reduces Spasticity in People With Chronic
Marco Capogrosso1,2, Roberto de Freitas1,2, Shovan Bhatia1,2,3
1Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
None:
Here, we report the final outcomes of a pilot clinical trial testing preliminary efficacy and safety of cervical epidural spinal cord stimulation (SCS) for chronic post-stroke upper-limb hemiparesis (NCT04512690). We implanted seven participants with profound motor deficits (Fugl-Meyer Assessment [FMA] scores 15-35) using two leads implanted unilaterally in the cervical spinal cord for 4 weeks. Under SCS ON, motor function immediately improved regardless of impairment severity (average +32% strength and +5.6 FMA-points). Notably, 3/7 participants with residual corticospinal connectivity to finger muscles regained hand/finger function with SCS. Despite performing only 8.6hrs of motor activity (5.5hrs with SCS ON), participants improved by average +6.6 FMA-points at the end of the study compared to baseline and spasticity decreased in all participants. While all benefited, our preliminary analysis indicates that spared sensory function may be a determinant of responsiveness to SCS. No serious adverse events occurred.
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