RTsMS and Body Weight-support Treadmill Training After Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury

FEASIBILITY and PRELIMINARY EFFICACY of REPETITIVE TRANS-SPINAL MAGNETIC STIMULATION for GAIT RECOVERY AFTER INCOMPLETE SPINAL CORD INJURY

The aim of this study is to assess the feasibility of combining rTsMS with BWSTT for gait and sensorimotor recovery in individuals with incomplete spinal cord injury.

A randomized, sham-controlled, triple-blinded and parallel group trial (10 therapeutic sessions). Active or sham rTsMS will be combined with body weight-support treadmill training to verify the improvement of gait and sensory-motor function in patients with incomplete spinal cord injury. Assessments will be performed before, after 5 and 10 therapeutic sessions, though: (i) the WISCI-II Index; (ii) ASIA Impairment Scale (AIS), (iii) ASIA Lower Extremities Motor Scale (LEMS), (iv) Ashworth Modified Scale; (v) the Functional Independence Measure (SCIM-III), (vi) the Short Form Health Survey 36 (SF-36) and (vii) the Patient Global Impression of Change Scale - (PGICS).

Inclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosed incomplete spinal cord injury established by a neurologist
• Chronic phase (>1 year)
• 18 and 60 years old, regardless of sex

Exclusion Criteria:

• Community ambulators
• Could not maintain an orthostatic position for 30 seconds without assistance
• Associated neurological and/or orthopedic conditions
• Contraindications for rTsMS
• Diagnosis of cardiac dysfunction, angina, or hemodynamic disorders