Transcutaneous Spinal Cord Stimulation for Spasticity in Primary Lateral Sclerosis: A Case Series

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Neurorehabilitation
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Primary Lateral Sclerosis (PLS) is a neurodegenerative disease causing lower extremity spasticity, impacting mobility and quality of life.
• Current treatments offer limited relief, necessitating exploration of non-pharmacological interventions.
• Transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (tSCS) has shown efficacy in reducing spasticity in other neurological conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of a single transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (tSCS) session on lower extremity spasticity and functional mobility in individuals with Primary Lateral Sclerosis (PLS).
• To assess the safety and tolerability of tSCS in the PLS population.

Main Methods:

• Six participants with PLS underwent a single 30-minute tSCS session with electrodes placed at T11-T12 and para-umbilically.
• Pre- and post-intervention assessments included spasticity measures (Modified Ashworth Scale, deep tendon reflexes, Numerical Rating Scale) and functional mobility tests (Tinetti POMA, 10-Meter Walk Test, 6-Minute Walk Test).
• Follow-up was conducted 24 hours post-intervention.

Main Results:

• The tSCS intervention was well-tolerated, with no adverse events reported.
• All participants showed improvements in Modified Ashworth Scale and Tinetti Performance Oriented Mobility Assessment scores.
• Five out of six participants reported reduced spasticity on the Numerical Rating Scale.

Conclusions:

• A single tSCS session appears to be a safe and potentially effective intervention for reducing spasticity and improving functional mobility in individuals with PLS.
• Further research with larger, controlled trials is warranted to confirm the clinical significance and generalizability of these findings.