Exoskeleton and Spinal Cord Stimulation for SCI

This study examines whether combining exoskeleton-assisted walking (a robotic device that helps move the legs in a walking pattern) with transcutaneous lumbosacral stimulation (painless electrical signals applied to the lower back to activate spinal circuits) improves walking recovery more than exoskeleton-assisted walking alone in people with an incomplete spinal cord injury (iSCI). Participants will attend 80 training sessions (3 times per week for 28 weeks) of 60–75 minutes each. Adults aged 18–65 with an incomplete spinal cord injury at the C5–T10 level, more than 6 years post-injury, who are wheelchair-dependent and have adequate bone density and leg muscle function may be eligible. Participation involves the intensive walking rehabilitation program at the study site, including use of the exoskeleton device and (for the stimulation group) surface electrodes on the lower back. This summary was generated with AI assistance and is intended to help patients understand the study in plain language.