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Individuals who suffer a spinal cord injury in the neck region have difficulty using their hands due to paralysis and/or weakness of their arms and hand muscles. This project aims to test the effects of pairing spinal cord and nerve stimulation combined with physical therapy training in recovering arms and hand function. The long-term goal is to provide better therapies that will improve the ability of individuals with spinal cord injuries to use their arms and hands to perform everyday tasks, similar to injury before.
Cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) results in paralysis and/or weakness of arms and hands that severely affects the independence and quality of life post-injury. Therefore, regaining arm and hand function remains the top priority of this population. Considering that SCI is mostly incomplete in nature, recent evidence suggests that physical or occupational therapy training combined with spinal cord transcutaneous stimulation (scTS) is effective in restoring arm and hand function post-cervical SCI. scTS is a non-invasive painless technique that augments the intrinsic capacity of the spinal cord to facilitate motor function post-SCI. The beneficial effects of scTS can be further improved by coupling it with peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS), which supplies the arm and hand muscles.
This study aims to investigate how precisely timed paired application of spinal cord transcutaneous stimulation (scTS) and peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) combined with physical therapy can improve the use of arms and hands in those with a SCI. Spinal cord transcutaneous stimulation (scTS) is a non-invasive electrical stimulation provided on top of the skin over specific areas of the spinal cord to excite the nervous system for the activity being trained and promote connections between the brain and spinal cord. Peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) is a non-invasive electrical stimulation provided on top of the skin over specific areas of the arm, forearm, and hand to excite the peripheral nerves and promote connections between the spinal cord and the muscles involved in the activity-based recovery training. We hypothesize that precisely timed application of scTS and PNS will increase spinal cord excitability. Increased spinal cord excitability coupled with physical therapy will facilitate hand function recovery post-SCI.
Study aims:
This is a pretest-posttest experimental design. SCI participants will be enrolled for Aims 1, 2, 3 and 4. For SCI participants, On site medical evaluation, ASIA Impairment Scale (ISNCSCI-AIS), MVC grip strength and nerve intactness study will be collected or performed during the screening process. If the individual is potentially eligible for the study, as determined by the study physician and investigators, they will undergo pre-training assessments, 20 training sessions, and post-training assessments. Non-Injured (NI) participants will be enrolled for Aims 1 and 2.
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| Label | Type | Description | Intervention Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| scTS | Active Comparator | This arm will receive 20 sessions of spinal cord transcutaneous stimulation (scTS) combined with physical therapy. |
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| scTS+PNS | Experimental | This arm will receive 20 sessions of paired application of spinal cord transcutaneous stimulation (scTS) and peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) followed by scTS combined with physical therapy. |
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| Name | Type | Description | Arm Group Labels | Other Names |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spinal cord transcutaneous stimulation | Device | Physical therapy combined with spinal cord transcutaneous stimulation will increase activity in the paralyzed or weak arm and hand muscles in individuals with spinal cord injury. Transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation is a non-invasive stimulation strategy and are known to facilitate recovery of lost function post spinal cord injury. |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| GRASSP | Graded Redefined Assessment of Strength, Sensibility and Prehension (GRASSP) is a 3-part assessment designed to measure participant's hand and arm function. The test specifically measures strength, sensation, and prehension. During strength testing, selected upper extremity muscles are assessed for the grade of muscle contraction or power of the muscle. During sensation testing, specific zones on the palmar and dorsal aspects of the hand are tested with Semmes Weinstein Monofilaments (SWM) with varying weights. Prehension is assessed both qualitatively and quantitatively. During the qualitative section, no specific position is required, except that the hand should be positioned appropriately for movement with assistance from the examiner, if necessary. During quantitative section, participant is asked to perform six tasks and performance is graded. | From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 weeks |
| NRS | Neuromuscular Recovery Scale Assessment (NRS) assesses the level of muscle activation and amount of external assistance required to perform motor tasks involving hand, arm, and trunk. The research participant will be asked to perform motor tasks as independently as possible. Research staff will score each of these tasks based on the algorithm. NRS consists of six sub-items focusing on UE function, including overhead press, shoulder flexion, grasp, door pull, open with key, and can open and manipulation. Items are scored from phase 1 to phase 4, the higher the phase, the better is the functional performance | From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 weeks |
| Voluntary hand opening and closing kinematics | Three-dimensional kinematic data will be collected using a motion capture system. Reflective markers will be placed on the participant's forearm, hand, and fingers to track wrist and finger movements during a maximum hand opening and closing task. Surface electrodes will be applied on the participant's skin to acquire EMG data. | From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 weeks |
| Maximal voluntary grip strength |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Functional Neurophysiological assessment (FNPA) | The assessment will be performed with the participant in lying position. The participants will be asked to relax for a minimum of 5 minutes at the beginning of the assessment to acquire a baseline of the electrical noise in his/her muscles and in the room. Corresponding volitional motor tasks will then be performed to match the muscles being recorded at that time (elbow flexion to record from biceps brachii). Reflexive testing, including deep tendon reflexes, clonus, Babinski, and reaction to vibration may be performed after volitional testing. |
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For SCI participants:
Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria:
For healthy volunteer/participants:
Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria:
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| Name | Role | Phone | Extension | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LeighAnn Martinez | Contact | 973-324-3557 | lmartinez@kesslerfoundation.org | |
| Pawan Sharma, Ph.D. | Contact | 973-324-3557 | psharma@kesslerfoundation.org |
| Name | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Gail Forrest, Ph.D. | Kessler Foundation | Principal Investigator |
| Facility | Status | City | State | ZIP | Country | Contacts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kessler Foundation | West Orange | New Jersey | 07052 | United States |
| PubMed Identifier | Type | Citation | Retractions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 37004296 | Background | Sharma P, Naglah A, Aslan S, Khalifa F, El-Baz A, Harkema S, D'Amico J. Preservation of functional descending input to paralyzed upper extremity muscles in motor complete cervical spinal cord injury. Clin Neurophysiol. 2023 Jun;150:56-68. doi: 10.1016/j.clinph.2023.03.003. Epub 2023 Mar 17. | |
| 38874496 | Background |
| Label | URL |
|---|---|
| Tim and Caroline Reynolds Center for Spinal Stimulation at Kessler Foundation | View source |
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| Paired spinal cord and peripheral nerve stimulation | Device | Physical therapy combined with paired spinal cord-peripheral nerve stimulation will increase activity in the paralyzed or weak arm and hand muscles in individuals with spinal cord injury. Transcutaneous spinal cord and peripheral nerve stimulation are both non-invasive stimulation strategy and are known to facilitate recovery of lost function post spinal cord injury. |
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For maximal voluntary grip strength, participants will be instructed to apply as much force as possible while trying to grasp or making a fist around the grip handle during a 3 second audio cue. Each MVC attempt will be followed by a rest period of 20 seconds of no activity. A total of 5 grip strength attempts will be collected.
| From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 weeks |
| Transcranial magnetic stimulation motor evoked potential (MEP) | To obtain MEP, transcortical magnetic stimulation (TMS) will be delivered through a figure-of-eight coil using a monophasic current waveform to the optimal scalp position along the arm and hand representation of the primary motor cortex eliciting largest MEP (MEPmax) from targeted arm and hand muscles. Electromyographic (EMG) sensors will be applied on the participant's skin to acquire muscle data. | From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 weeks |
| F-wave | 120% of the maximum stimulation intensity causing plateauing of the M-wave will be used to elicit F-wave. Evoked responses will be recorded using low-noise, pre-amplified surface EMG electrodes placed on the arm and hand muscles to record signals. | From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 weeks |
| From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 weeks |
| Multisegmental Motor Response (MMR) | MMR will be evoked transcutaneously by using a constant current stimulator between the C2 spinous processes and the coccyx. The cathode(s) (pre-gelled, soft surface electrodes) will be placed over the skin between C2 spinous processes and the coccyx, while large anode(s) will be placed over the clavicle, abdomen, iliac bone or at different levels or at segments just below the cathode. The stimulus intensities will be adjusted for each testing condition, i.e. supine and sitting conditions. MMRs will be recorded bilaterally from hand and arm muscles and the trunk using low-noise, pre-amplified surface electromyographic electrodes placed on the skin over the muscle to record signal | From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 weeks |
| Capabilities of Upper Extremity Questionnaire (CUE-Q) | The Capabilities of Upper Extremity Questionnaire (CUE-Q) is designed to assess functional capabilities of the upper extremities, specifically in individuals that have experienced a neurological injury. The CUE-Q is a 32-item questionnaire, scored by self-report through an interview with the participant. The 32 items assess six domains including unilateral (left and right) items, bilateral items, reaching items, pulling/pushing items, wrist items, and hand and finger items. | From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 weeks |
| Spinal Cord Injury-Quality of Life (SCI-QOL) Questionnaire | The SCI-QOL was developed to address the shortage of psychometrically sound and relevant patient reported outcome measures available for clinical card and research in SCI rehabilitation. This questionnaire is accessible through computer adaptive testing and addresses the following domains: emotional health, physical-medical health, social participation, and physical function. | From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 weeks |
| International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury (ISNCSCI) - ASIA Impairment Scale (AIS) | The ASIA Impairment Scale (AIS) is the most accepted classification in SCI that describes the level and severity of the injury, based upon the motor and sensory examination as described in the ISNCSCI for SCI. A "motor complete" injury (AIS A and B) is defined as an individual without motor sacral sparing (voluntary anal contraction) or sensory sacral sparing with motor function more than 3 levels below the motor level on either side. Motor incomplete injuries (AIS C and D) indicate some degree of sacral sparing and usually have voluntary movement in the lower extremities. | From enrollment to the end of treatment at 4 weeks |
| Singh G, Sharma P, Forrest G, Harkema S, Behrman A, Gerasimenko Y. Spinal Cord Transcutaneous Stimulation in Cervical Spinal Cord Injury: A Review Examining Upper Extremity Neuromotor Control, Recovery Mechanisms, and Future Directions. J Neurotrauma. 2024 Sep;41(17-18):2056-2074. doi: 10.1089/neu.2023.0438. Epub 2024 Jul 12. |
| 37445450 | Background | Sharma P, Panta T, Ugiliweneza B, Bert RJ, Gerasimenko Y, Forrest G, Harkema S. Multi-Site Spinal Cord Transcutaneous Stimulation Facilitates Upper Limb Sensory and Motor Recovery in Severe Cervical Spinal Cord Injury: A Case Study. J Clin Med. 2023 Jun 30;12(13):4416. doi: 10.3390/jcm12134416. |
| 33382659 | Background | Zhang F, Momeni K, Ramanujam A, Ravi M, Carnahan J, Kirshblum S, Forrest GF. Cervical Spinal Cord Transcutaneous Stimulation Improves Upper Extremity and Hand Function in People With Complete Tetraplegia: A Case Study. IEEE Trans Neural Syst Rehabil Eng. 2020 Dec;28(12):3167-3174. doi: 10.1109/TNSRE.2020.3048592. Epub 2021 Jan 28. |
| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D013119 | Spinal Cord Injuries |
| D013118 | Spinal Cord Diseases |
| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D002493 | Central Nervous System Diseases |
| D009422 | Nervous System Diseases |
| D020196 | Trauma, Nervous System |
| D014947 | Wounds and Injuries |
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