TRANSCUTANEOUS SPINAL CORD STIMULATION AND ACTIVITY- BAORD THERAPY

Course overview

There are various activity-based strategies used to promote recovery following spinal cord injury (SCI) through activation of sensorimotor pathways and spinal locomotor circuitry. There is a need for additional neuro-augmentative strategies to supplement these interventions, such as spinal cord stimulation. While epidural spinal cord stimulation is invasive and not currently applicable in the rehabilitation clinic environment, Transcutaneous Spinal Cord Stimulation (TSCS) should be considered. TSCS may augment voluntary muscle activation through excitation of spinal cord circuitry, representing a promising adjunct to currently available therapies for individuals with SCI. This presentation will describe the theory and mechanisms behind TSCS, current evidence, study results, clinical application, and a case series in the pediatric spinal cord injury population.