Spinal Cord Stimulation After Spinal Cord Injury: Promising Multisystem Effects

AbstractPurpose of ReviewSpinal cord stimulation (SCS) is an exciting new area of research in the field of spinal cord injury (SCI) medicine. This review aims to provide an overview of recent advances in SCS related to motor control, neurogenic bladder, and cardiovascular effects and discuss future directions.Recent FindingsEpidural spinal stimulation (spES) and transcutaneous stimulation (TSS) have been shown to improve lower and upper-extremity motor control after SCI. Similarly, SCS has shown to impact bladder function and blood pressure control after SCI. Future directions include gaining a better understanding of the associated mechanism, further optimization of stimulation parameters, coordinating the multisystem effects of SCS, and enhancing our knowledge of the benefits and limitations of spES versus TSS.SummaryClinicians should be aware of the growing evidence supporting the potential for multisystem effects of SCS after SCI.
Source: Current Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Reports - Category: Rehabilitation Source Type: research