Spinal Stimulation With Gait Training to Improve Lower Limbs Motor Recovery in Spinal Cord Injury (NCT07375745)
Combined Gait Training and Transcutaneous Spinal Cord Stimulation to Enhance Lower Limbs Motor Recovery After Subacute SCI
🩺 Plain-English Summary (8th-Grade Level)
Spinal cord injury (SCI) often results in partial or complete loss of movement. In the subacute phase (\< 6 months), the central nervous system shows increased potential for neuroplasticity, making it more responsive to rehabilitation and external stimulation. Standard care in rehabilitation centers relies on activity-based therapy (ABT), which uses intensive, task-specific training to promote recovery. Although ABT can improve mobility, its effects are often limited due to the nature of SCI and the indirect activation of neural circuits. Recent findings suggest that adding transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (tSCS) to ABT in chronic SCI (\> 12 months) can enhance lower-limb motor recovery. This study will evaluate whether combining tSCS with gait training is safe and feasible in individuals with subacute SCI and whether it improves lower-limb motor outcomes compared with gait training alone. The investigators hypothesize that pairing gait training with tSCS early after injury will be safe and feasible and that tSCS delivered during gait training will augment leg muscle activation and lead to greater functional improvements. The study will also assess the feasibility, safety and tolerability of implementing this combined intervention in a intensive functional rehabilitation setting.
Who can join: Review the eligibility criteria below.
Location: Institut de réadaptation Gingras-Lindsay-de-Montréal (IRGLM) — Montreal, Quebec
Age range: 16 Years
🧪 Interventions in This Study
- Protocol 1: Gait training combined with a sham stimulation (OTHER)
- Protocol 2: Gait training combined with an effective tSCS (OTHER)
📋 "Do I Qualify?" — 1-Minute Self Screener
Instant ChecklistFull eligibility criteria are available on the official NIH protocol. View the criteria ↗
📍 All Participating Trial Locations (1 Sites)
- Institut de réadaptation Gingras-Lindsay-de-Montréal (IRGLM) — Montreal, Quebec
📞 Contact the Study Coordinator
Phone: (514) 343-6111
Email: dorothy.barthelemy@umontreal.ca
Coordinator details come directly from the registered NIH protocol. Confirm the study is still recruiting before traveling.
💰 Cost, Insurance & Patient Rights
- 100% Free Items: The investigational treatment and protocol-required procedures are supplied at zero cost by the sponsor.
- Routine Patient Care: Under federal law (ACA § 2709) and many state statutes, routine care costs are covered during participation.
- Voluntary Participation: You may withdraw at any time without affecting your standard medical care.
More studies in Spinal Cord Injury
- AIH-induced Walking Recovery After Subacute SCI — Atlanta, Georgia
- C-Brace II Spinal Cord Injury — Chicago, Illinois
- Autonomic Effects of Stimulation in SCI — The Bronx, New York
- Time Restricted Eating to Mitigate Obesity in Veterans With Spinal Cord Injury — Syracuse, New York
- Implanted Myoelectric Control for Restoration of Hand Function in Spinal Cord Injury — Cleveland, Ohio
- Electrical Stimulation for Continence After Spinal Cord Injury — Palo Alto, California
Explore by condition: All Spinal Cord Injury clinical trials
💡 How to Participate
- Check the checklist above to see if you may qualify.
- Contact the study coordinator using the phone/email above.
- Ask about the visit schedule, what is covered at no cost, and any travel support.
- Confirm with your own doctor before making a decision.