Transcutaneous Spinal Cord Stimulation for Upper Extremity Function

Transcutaneous electrical stimulation (tcES) of the spinal cord has shown great promise in restoring upper extremity function after spinal cord injury (SCI). More recently, the use of invasive, epidural electrical stimulation of the spinal cord has also demonstrated promise in restoring upper extremity function post-stroke. However, the effect of stimulation parameters such as electrode configuration and stimulation frequency on excitability of the nervous system remains unknown preventing the opportunity to fully exploit this noninvasive stimulation paradigm. Additionally, the utility of noninvasive tcES in the stroke population remains unexplored. This project utilizes a comprehensive set of neurophysiological techniques, in combination with carefully chosen motor tasks, to directly link and assess the effects of stimulation parameters on neural excitability and upper extremity function during and following the delivery of cervical tcES in individuals with SCI and stroke. The fundamental knowledge gained from this project will ultimately improve the implementation of this novel and non-invasive neuromodulatory tool through an improved understanding of how tcES can facilitate recovery of function.

NCT Number	NCT06596369
Lead Sponsor	University of Alberta Collaborators: Glenrose Foundation
Conditions	Spinal Cord Injuries, Stroke
Enrollment	30 participants
Start Date	2024-06-15
Primary Completion	2029-09-14 (estimated)
Study Completion	2029-12-30 (estimated)
Updated on ClinicalTrials.gov	2026-04-13