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Spinal Cord Sparks Arm Movement After Stroke
5 Jun
Summary
- Spinal cord stimulation increased arm strength by 32% in stroke survivors.
- Therapy involved less than nine hours of training over four weeks.
- Improvements lasted only with continued stimulation use.
Electrical stimulation of the spinal cord shows promise for enhancing arm function in stroke survivors, according to recent pilot trial findings. Seven individuals with severe arm weakness experienced an average 32% boost in strength, along with improved mobility and reduced muscle stiffness.
This novel therapy, cervical epidural spinal cord stimulation (SCS), involves implanting thin electrodes along the spinal cord to improve brain-muscle communication. Participants received these benefits with minimal intervention, under nine hours of training over four weeks.
While immediate improvements were observed when stimulation was active, sustained motor function gains were contingent on continued use. Researchers are now initiating a larger clinical trial to explore the long-term effects and potential for SCS as a practical, implantable assistive technology for stroke survivors.
