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Løve US, Kasch H, Severinsen KE, Abrahamsen J, Høyer C, Forman A, Thomsen HH. The Laparoscopic Implantation of Neuroprosthesis Procedure Increases Leg Lean Mass in Individuals With Paraplegia Due To Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury. Neuromodulation 2023; 26:1802-1807. [PMID: 35690509 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurom.2022.04.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Revised: 04/09/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We hypothesized that the laparoscopic implantation of neuroprosthesis (LION) procedure would significantly alter the body composition of patients with chronic traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI). The objectives were to determine the effect of the LION procedure on lean mass (LM), fatty mass (FM), and bone mineral content (BMC) in patients with SCI. MATERIALS AND METHODS Five consecutive patients underwent dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry scans before the LION procedure and at the one-year postoperative follow-up to determine changes in LM, FM, and BMC. Student paired t-test was used to determine significance. RESULTS The patients gained 2506 ± 565 g of LM in the legs (p < 0.001), which was an 18% total increase in leg LM. Total body LM was significantly increased by 3523 ± 1048 g (p < 0.003). FM was unaffected, whereas total BMC showed a small but significant increase of 99 ± 42 g (p = 0.009). CONCLUSIONS The LION procedure and subsequent neurostimulation procedures resulted in substantial increases in leg LM in patients with chronic traumatic SCI and paraplegia. A possible incremental effect on total BMC also was observed. Further studies are needed to confirm and expand these promising results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uffe Schou Løve
- Department of Surgery, Regional Hospital of Viborg, Viborg, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
| | - Helge Kasch
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark; Spinal Cord Injury Center of Western Denmark, Department of Neurology, Regional Hospital of Viborg, Viborg, Denmark
| | - Kåre Eg Severinsen
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark; Spinal Cord Injury Center of Western Denmark, Department of Neurology, Regional Hospital of Viborg, Viborg, Denmark
| | - Jan Abrahamsen
- Department of Clinical Physiology, Regional Hospital of Viborg, Viborg, Denmark
| | - Christian Høyer
- Department of Clinical Physiology, Regional Hospital of Viborg, Viborg, Denmark
| | - Axel Forman
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Henrik Holm Thomsen
- Research Unit of Multimorbidity, Regional Hospital of Viborg, Viborg, Denmark; Department of Internal Medicine, Clinic for Diabetes and Hormonal Diseases, Regional Hospital of Viborg, Viborg, Denmark
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García-Alén L, Kumru H, Castillo-Escario Y, Benito-Penalva J, Medina-Casanovas J, Gerasimenko YP, Edgerton VR, García-Alías G, Vidal J. Transcutaneous Cervical Spinal Cord Stimulation Combined with Robotic Exoskeleton Rehabilitation for the Upper Limbs in Subjects with Cervical SCI: Clinical Trial. Biomedicines 2023; 11:biomedicines11020589. [PMID: 36831125 PMCID: PMC9953486 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11020589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2022] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: Restoring arm and hand function is a priority for individuals with cervical spinal cord injury (cSCI) for independence and quality of life. Transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (tSCS) promotes the upper extremity (UE) motor function when applied at the cervical region. The aim of the study was to determine the effects of cervical tSCS, combined with an exoskeleton, on motor strength and functionality of UE in subjects with cSCI. (2) Methods: twenty-two subjects participated in the randomized mix of parallel-group and crossover clinical trial, consisting of an intervention group (n = 15; tSCS exoskeleton) and a control group (n = 14; exoskeleton). The assessment was carried out at baseline, after the last session, and two weeks after the last session. We assessed graded redefined assessment of strength, sensibility, and prehension (GRASSP), box and block test (BBT), spinal cord independence measure III (SCIM-III), maximal voluntary contraction (MVC), ASIA impairment scale (AIS), and WhoQol-Bref; (3) Results: GRASSP, BBT, SCIM III, cylindrical grip force and AIS motor score showed significant improvement in both groups (p ≤ 0.05), however, it was significantly higher in the intervention group than the control group for GRASSP strength, and GRASSP prehension ability (p ≤ 0.05); (4) Conclusion: our findings show potential advantages of the combination of cervical tSCS with an exoskeleton to optimize the outcome for UE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loreto García-Alén
- Fundación Institut Guttmann, Institut Universitari de Neurorrehabilitació Adscrit a la UAB, 08916 Badalona, Spain
- Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Hatice Kumru
- Fundación Institut Guttmann, Institut Universitari de Neurorrehabilitació Adscrit a la UAB, 08916 Badalona, Spain
- Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
- Fundació Institut d’Investigació en Ciéncies de la Salut Germans Trias i Pujol, 08916 Badalona, Spain
- Correspondence:
| | - Yolanda Castillo-Escario
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia, Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Automatic Control, Universitat Politécnica de Catalunya-Barcelona Tech (UPC), 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Jesús Benito-Penalva
- Fundación Institut Guttmann, Institut Universitari de Neurorrehabilitació Adscrit a la UAB, 08916 Badalona, Spain
- Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
- Fundació Institut d’Investigació en Ciéncies de la Salut Germans Trias i Pujol, 08916 Badalona, Spain
| | - Josep Medina-Casanovas
- Fundación Institut Guttmann, Institut Universitari de Neurorrehabilitació Adscrit a la UAB, 08916 Badalona, Spain
- Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
- Fundació Institut d’Investigació en Ciéncies de la Salut Germans Trias i Pujol, 08916 Badalona, Spain
| | - Yury P. Gerasimenko
- Pavlov Institute of Physiology, St. Petersburg 199034, Russia
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292, USA
- Kentucky Spinal Cord Injury Research Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292, USA
| | - Victor Reggie Edgerton
- Rancho Research Institute, Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center, Downey, CA 90242, USA
| | - Guillermo García-Alías
- Fundación Institut Guttmann, Institut Universitari de Neurorrehabilitació Adscrit a la UAB, 08916 Badalona, Spain
- Departament de Biologia Cel·lular, Fisiologia i Immunologia & Insititute of Neuroscience, Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Joan Vidal
- Fundación Institut Guttmann, Institut Universitari de Neurorrehabilitació Adscrit a la UAB, 08916 Badalona, Spain
- Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
- Fundació Institut d’Investigació en Ciéncies de la Salut Germans Trias i Pujol, 08916 Badalona, Spain
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de Sire A, Moggio L, Marotta N, Curci C, Lippi L, Invernizzi M, Mezian K, Ammendolia A. Impact of rehabilitation on volumetric muscle loss in subjects with traumatic spinal cord injury: A systematic review. NeuroRehabilitation 2023; 52:365-386. [PMID: 36806523 DOI: 10.3233/nre-220277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Spinal cord injury (SCI) leads to spinal nerve fiber tract damage resulting in functional impairments. Volumetric muscle loss (VML), a skeletal muscle volume abnormal reduction, is represented by atrophy below the injury level. The strategies for VML management included personalized approaches, and no definite indications are available. OBJECTIVE To identify the rehabilitation effects of VML in subjects with SCI (humans and animals). METHODS PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were systematically searched to identify longitudinal observational studies with individuals affected by traumatic SCI as participants; rehabilitation treatment as intervention; no control, sham treatment, and electrical stimulation programs as control; total lean body and lower limb lean mass, cross-sectional area, functional gait recovery, muscle thickness, and ultrasound intensity, as outcome. RESULTS Twenty-four longitudinal observational studies were included, evaluating different rehabilitation approaches' effects on the VML reduction in subjects affected by SCI. The data showed that electrical stimulation and treadmill training are effective in reducing the VML in this population. CONCLUSION This systematic review underlines the need to treat subjects with traumatic SCI (humans and animals) with different rehabilitation approaches to prevent VML in the subacute and chronic phases. Further clinical observations are needed to overcome the bias and to define the intervention's timing and modalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro de Sire
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Unit, University of CatanzaroMagna Graecia, Catanzaro, Italy.,Department of Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Lucrezia Moggio
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Unit, University of CatanzaroMagna Graecia, Catanzaro, Italy.,Rehabilitation Unit, Ospedale degliInfermi, Biella, Italy
| | - Nicola Marotta
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Unit, University of CatanzaroMagna Graecia, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Claudio Curci
- Department of Neurosciences, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Unit, ASST CarloPoma, Mantova, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Lippi
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Piedmont "A. Avogadro", Novara, Italy.,Translational Medicine, DipartimentoAttività Integrate Ricerca e Innovazione (DAIRI), AziendaOspedaliera SS. Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo, Alessandria, Italy
| | - Marco Invernizzi
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Piedmont "A. Avogadro", Novara, Italy.,Translational Medicine, DipartimentoAttività Integrate Ricerca e Innovazione (DAIRI), AziendaOspedaliera SS. Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo, Alessandria, Italy
| | - Kamal Mezian
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General UniversityHospital in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Antonio Ammendolia
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Unit, University of CatanzaroMagna Graecia, Catanzaro, Italy
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Myatich A, Haque A, Sole C, Banik NL. Clemastine in remyelination and protection of neurons and skeletal muscle after spinal cord injury. Neural Regen Res 2022; 18:940-946. [PMID: 36254972 PMCID: PMC9827778 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.355749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal cord injuries affect nearly five to ten individuals per million every year. Spinal cord injury causes damage to the nerves, muscles, and the tissue surrounding the spinal cord. Depending on the severity, spinal injuries are linked to degeneration of axons and myelin, resulting in neuronal impairment and skeletal muscle weakness and atrophy. The protection of neurons and promotion of myelin regeneration during spinal cord injury is important for recovery of function following spinal cord injury. Current treatments have little to no effect on spinal cord injury and neurogenic muscle loss. Clemastine, an Food and Drug Administration-approved antihistamine drug, reduces inflammation, protects cells, promotes remyelination, and preserves myelin integrity. Recent clinical evidence suggests that clemastine can decrease the loss of axons after spinal cord injury, stimulating the differentiation of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells into mature oligodendrocytes that are capable of myelination. While clemastine can aid not only in the remyelination and preservation of myelin sheath integrity, it also protects neurons. However, its role in neurogenic muscle loss remains unclear. This review discusses the pathophysiology of spinal cord injury, and the role of clemastine in the protection of neurons, myelin, and axons as well as attenuation of skeletal muscle loss following spinal cord injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Myatich
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA,Department of Neurosurgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Azizul Haque
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA,Department of Neurosurgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA,Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Administration Medical Center, Charleston, SC, USA,Correspondence to: Azizul Haque, ; Naren L. Banik, .
| | - Christopher Sole
- Department of Health and Human Performance, The Citadel, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Naren L. Banik
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA,Department of Neurosurgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA,Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Administration Medical Center, Charleston, SC, USA,Correspondence to: Azizul Haque, ; Naren L. Banik, .
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Historical development and contemporary use of neuromodulation in human spinal cord injury. Curr Opin Neurol 2022; 35:536-543. [PMID: 35856918 DOI: 10.1097/wco.0000000000001080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW There is a long history of neuromodulation of the spinal cord after injury in humans with recent momentum of studies showing evidence for therapeutic potential. Nonrandomized, mechanistic, hypothesis-driven, small cohort, epidural stimulation proof of principle studies provide insight into the human spinal circuitry functionality and support the pathway toward clinical treatments. RECENT FINDINGS Individuals living with spinal cord injury can recover motor, cardiovascular, and bladder function even years after injury using neuromodulation. Integration of continuous feedback from sensory information, task-specific training, and optimized excitability state of human spinal circuitry are critical spinal mechanisms. Neuromodulation activates previously undetectable residual supraspinal pathways to allow intentional (voluntary) control of motor movements. Further discovery unveiled the human spinal circuitry integrated regulatory control of motor and autonomic systems indicating the realistic potential of neuromodulation to improve the capacity incrementally, but significantly for recovery after severe spinal cord injury. SUMMARY The discovery that both motor and autonomic function recovers with lumbosacral spinal cord placement of the electrode reveals exciting avenues for a synergistic overall improvement in function, health, and quality of life for those who have been living with the consequences of spinal cord injury even for decades.
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Calvert JS, Darie R, Parker SR, Shaaya E, Syed S, McLaughlin BL, Fridley JS, Borton DA. Spatiotemporal Distribution of Electrically Evoked Spinal Compound Action Potentials During Spinal Cord Stimulation. Neuromodulation 2022:S1094-7159(22)00644-4. [PMID: 35551869 PMCID: PMC9643656 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurom.2022.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Revised: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Recent studies using epidural spinal cord stimulation (SCS) have demonstrated restoration of motor function in individuals previously diagnosed with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI). In parallel, the spinal evoked compound action potentials (ECAPs) induced by SCS have been used to gain insight into the mechanisms of SCS-based chronic pain therapy and to titrate closed-loop delivery of stimulation. However, the previous characterization of ECAPs recorded during SCS was performed with one-dimensional, cylindrical electrode leads. Herein, we describe the unique spatiotemporal distribution of ECAPs induced by SCS across the medial-lateral and rostral-caudal axes of the spinal cord, and their relationship to polysynaptic lower-extremity motor activation. MATERIALS AND METHODS In each of four sheep, two 24-contact epidural SCS arrays were placed on the lumbosacral spinal cord, spanning the L3 to L6 vertebrae. Spinal ECAPs were recorded during SCS from nonstimulating contacts of the epidural arrays, which were synchronized to bilateral electromyography (EMG) recordings from six back and lower-extremity muscles. RESULTS We observed a triphasic P1, N1, P2 peak morphology and propagation in the ECAPs during midline and lateral stimulation. Distinct regions of lateral stimulation resulted in simultaneously increased ECAP and EMG responses compared with stimulation at adjacent lateral contacts. Although EMG responses decreased during repetitive stimulation bursts, spinal ECAP amplitude did not significantly change. Both spinal ECAP responses and EMG responses demonstrated preferential ipsilateral recruitment during lateral stimulation compared with midline stimulation. Furthermore, EMG responses were correlated with stimulation that resulted in increased ECAP amplitude on the ipsilateral side of the electrode array. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that ECAPs can be used to investigate the effects of SCS on spinal sensorimotor networks and to inform stimulation strategies that optimize the clinical benefit of SCS in the context of managing chronic pain and the restoration of sensorimotor function after SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan S Calvert
- Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Radu Darie
- Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Samuel R Parker
- Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Elias Shaaya
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brown University and Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Sohail Syed
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brown University and Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI, USA
| | | | - Jared S Fridley
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brown University and Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI, USA
| | - David A Borton
- Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA; Department of Veterans Affairs, Center for Neurorestoration and Neurotechnology, Providence, RI, USA; Carney Institute for Brain Science, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.
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Fenton JM, King JA, Hoekstra SP, Valentino SE, Phillips SM, Goosey-Tolfrey VL. Protocols aiming to increase muscle mass in persons with motor complete spinal cord injury: a systematic review. Disabil Rehabil 2022; 45:1433-1443. [PMID: 35465798 DOI: 10.1080/09638288.2022.2063420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The purpose of this review was to compare all intervention modalities aimed at increasing skeletal muscle mass (SMM) in the paralysed limbs of persons with chronic (>1-year post-injury), motor complete spinal cord injury (SCI). MATERIALS AND METHODS A systematic review of EMBASE, MEDLINE, Scopus, and SPORTDiscus databases was conducted from inception until December 2021. Published intervention studies aimed to increase SMM (measured by magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, ultrasound, muscle biopsy, or lean soft tissue mass by dual X-ray absorptiometry) in the paralysed limbs of adults (>18 years) with SCI were included. RESULTS Fifty articles were included that, overall, demonstrated a high risk of bias. Studies were categorised into six groups: neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) with and without external resistance, functional electrical stimulation cycling, walking- and standing-based interventions, pharmacological treatments, and studies that compared or combined intervention modalities. Resistance training (RT) using NMES on the quadriceps produced the largest and most consistent increases in SMM of all intervention modalities. CONCLUSIONS Current evidence suggests that clinical practise aiming to increase SMM in the paralysed limbs of persons with motor complete SCI should perform NMES-RT. However, more high-quality randomised control trials are needed to determine how training variables, such as exercise volume and intensity, can be optimised for increasing SMM. Implications for rehabilitationPersons with spinal cord injury (SCI) experience severe reductions in skeletal muscle mass (SMM) post-injury, which may exacerbate their risk of obesity and metabolic disease.Out of all exercise and non-exercise-based interventions, this systematic review shows that neuromuscular electrical stimulation-based resistance training demonstrates the most robust and consistent evidence for increasing skeletal muscle mass in the paralysed limbs of adults with motor complete spinal cord injury.The findings from this review can be used to inform evidence-based practise for exercise practitioners, as well as direct future research focused on increasing muscle mass in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan M. Fenton
- National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine, School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK
- Peter Harrison Centre for Disability Sport, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK
| | - James A. King
- National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine, School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK
- National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Leicester Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust and University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Sven P. Hoekstra
- National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine, School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK
- Peter Harrison Centre for Disability Sport, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK
| | | | - Stuart M. Phillips
- Department of Kinesiology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Victoria L. Goosey-Tolfrey
- National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine, School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK
- Peter Harrison Centre for Disability Sport, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK
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Seáñez I, Capogrosso M. Motor improvements enabled by spinal cord stimulation combined with physical training after spinal cord injury: review of experimental evidence in animals and humans. Bioelectron Med 2021; 7:16. [PMID: 34706778 PMCID: PMC8555080 DOI: 10.1186/s42234-021-00077-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Electrical spinal cord stimulation (SCS) has been gaining momentum as a potential therapy for motor paralysis in consequence of spinal cord injury (SCI). Specifically, recent studies combining SCS with activity-based training have reported unprecedented improvements in motor function in people with chronic SCI that persist even without stimulation. In this work, we first provide an overview of the critical scientific advancements that have led to the current uses of SCS in neurorehabilitation: e.g. the understanding that SCS activates dormant spinal circuits below the lesion by recruiting large-to-medium diameter sensory afferents within the posterior roots. We discuss how this led to the standardization of implant position which resulted in consistent observations by independent clinical studies that SCS in combination with physical training promotes improvements in motor performance and neurorecovery. While all reported participants were able to move previously paralyzed limbs from day 1, recovery of more complex motor functions was gradual, and the timeframe for first observations was proportional to the task complexity. Interestingly, individuals with SCI classified as AIS B and C regained motor function in paralyzed joints even without stimulation, but not individuals with motor and sensory complete SCI (AIS A). Experiments in animal models of SCI investigating the potential mechanisms underpinning this neurorecovery suggest a synaptic reorganization of cortico-reticulo-spinal circuits that correlate with improvements in voluntary motor control. Future experiments in humans and animal models of paralysis will be critical to understand the potential and limits for functional improvements in people with different types, levels, timeframes, and severities of SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ismael Seáñez
- Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, USA. .,Neurosurgery, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, USA.
| | - Marco Capogrosso
- Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, USA.,Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Rehab and Neural Engineering Labs, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, USA.,Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, USA
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