RecruitingNot ApplicableNCT07397559

Spatiotemporal tSCS in Spinal Cord Injury

Spatiotemporal Control of Transcutaneous Spinal Cord Stimulation for Motor Function in SCI

Sponsor

Washington University School of Medicine

Enrollment

48 participants

Start Date

Jan 19, 2026

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Conditions

Spinal Cord Injuries (SCI)

Summary

Spinal cord injury leads to long-lasting impairment, and currently, there is no cure for paralysis. Although transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation has shown promising results in recovering lost movements, its poor selectivity in muscle recruitment compared to invasive approaches limits the type of rehabilitation exercises that can be practiced. This project studies how spatial, frequency, and amplitude control of stimulation can be used to selectively target different neural pathways and muscle groups.

Eligibility

Min Age: 16 YearsMax Age: 65 Years

Inclusion Criteria7

Age between 16 and 65 years.
Have a spinal cord injury (neurological level C3-T12) that occurred ≥1 year (chronic stage) prior to enrollment.
American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale (AIS) classification C or D
Able to voluntarily contract (motor score ≥ 1) at least two leg muscles (visual or palpable contraction).
Use of prescription medication(s) for control of spasticity has not changed in the last 2 weeks
Able to provide consent
Ability to follow multiple instructions and communicate pain or discomfort

Exclusion Criteria9

Progressive spinal lesions, including degenerative disorders of the spinal cord
Pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or currently breastfeeding
History of cardiopulmonary disease or cardiac symptoms
Implanted stimulators of any type (baclofen pump, epidural spinal stimulator, cardiac defibrillator, pace-maker, etc.)
Presence of orthopedic conditions that would negatively affect participation in leg exercise
History of autonomic dysreflexia that is severe, unstable, and/or uncontrolled
Unstable or significant medical conditions that can interfere with exercise or neurophysiological evaluations, such as severe neuropathic pain, depression, mood disorders, or other cognitive disorders
Spasms that limit the ability to participate in leg exercise activity
Breakdown in skin area that will be in contact with electrodes

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Interventions

OTHERNo Stimulation

Participants complete motor tasks and outcome assessments with no spinal cord stimulation applied.

DEVICEConventional tSCS

Non-invasive transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (tSCS) is delivered at 30 Hz using a single cathode electrode targeting the lumbar spinal cord to reinforce leg motor output during study tasks

DEVICESpatiotemporal tSCS

Stimulation parameters, including electrode location, stimulation frequency, and stimulation amplitude, are systematically varied to reinforce leg motor output during study tasks