This is a pilot research study to test the protocols needed for transcutaneous spinal electrical stimulation in persons living with spinal cord injury (SCI). Up to 24 participants will be enrolled. A variety of stimulation parameters and outcome measures will be assessed.

Purpose of this project

Spinal cord stimulation has the potential to improve motor function recovery after spinal cord injury. Commonly used approaches include low-intensity, direct current (DC) stimulation applied across multiple segments, electrical transcutaneous (ETC) stimulation, and magnetic transcutaneous stimulation (MTC).

Objective: to evaluate and compare the voluntary and reflexive motor performance in the same subjects, including people with and without spinal cord injury, after non-invasive spinal cord stimulation interventions. Comparing two different interventions applied in different experimental sessions and the respective sham stimulation is the goal of this study.

corticospinal and spinal motor pathways in paraplegics and in non-injured humans will be tested.

Inclusion Criteria:

• spinal cord injury C4 to L4
• ability to understand and follow directions

Exclusion Criteria:

• history of seizures, head injury, concussion, unexplained loss of consciousness or if they lived with an implanted cochlear stimulator, brain/neurostimulator, cardiac pacemaker, medication infusion device or live with metal implants in their body or if they are pregnant.

Upon request, we will consider making anonymized data available for analysis by other researchers

After study completion (May 2022) for one year.

Upon request

The participant will be connected to the stimulation device(s) but will not know if it has been turned on during each trial. In addition, the person analyzing the outcome data will not be aware of the stimulation status of the participant.