Noninvasive Stimulation Improves Hand Use After Spinal Cord Injury

By using noninvasive stimulation, researchers were able to temporarily improve the ability of people with spinal cord injuries to use their hands. The findings, reported in Current Biology, a Cell Press publication, hold promise in treating thousands of people in the United States alone who are partially paralyzed due to spinal cord injury.

“This approach builds on earlier work and highlights the importance of the corticospinal tract – which conducts impulses from the brain’s motor cortex to the spinal cord and is a major pathway contributing to voluntary movement – as an important target for intervention after spinal cord injury,” said Monica Perez of the University of Pittsburgh.

The researchers tested the new method in 19 people with chronic cervical spinal cord injury and 14 uninjured people. The treatment was customized to each individual and paired transcranial magnetic stimulation delivered to a specific part of the motor cortex with electrical stimulation to peripheral nerves found in the wrist.

One hundred paired pulses were delivered every 10 seconds for a period of around 20 minutes to produce volleys of neural activity. The timing of arrival of those volleys in the spinal cord was absolutely essential to the treatment’s success, the report shows.

“This short, noninvasive stimulation protocol has the potential to be used within a clinic setting as part of a rehabilitation technique,” said study co-author Karen Bunday, also of the University of Pittsburgh. “When pulses from the motor cortex were precisely timed to arrive at the spinal cord one or two milliseconds before pulses from the peripheral nerve, we observed an increase in spinal cord transmission and voluntary motor output for up to 80 minutes.”

After the noninvasive treatment, the majority of the participants in the study could exert more force with their hand muscles. Those effects translated into greater manual dexterity when participants were asked to grasp and manipulate small pegs with their index fingers and thumbs.

More prolonged use of the technique or its combination with other rehabilitation strategies may well improve its therapeutic benefits, the researchers say. The protocol might also be used in the treatment of other kinds of motor disorders involving damage to the corticospinal tract.

“Human electrophysiology can be a powerful tool for developing therapies,” Perez concluded. “We need to explore new targets to improve rehabilitation strategies by taking advantage of our knowledge in human physiology and their mechanisms.”

—————–

n.p. (2012, December 1). “Noninvasive Stimulation Improves Hand Use After Spinal Cord Injury.” Medical News Today. Retrieved from http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/253403.php.

Share This Post:

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
RehaBlog

More Posts

Signs of a Traumatic Brain Injury You May Not Know

What exactly is a traumatic brain injury? A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an injury to the brain that can be caused by a forceful jolt, bump, or hit to the head. It can also be caused by a sharp object that pushes through the skull and into the brain. Such injuries are often caused by car accidents, falls, sports, or natural disasters. For example, a concussion is a mild form of TBI; however, not all injuries to the head will cause a TBI.

Floor Transfers: Why They’re Important

Floor transfers, the ability to get down and rise from the floor without assistance, are an indicator of an individual’s functional independence, quality of life, and a predictor of longevity and overall health. This seemingly simple movement represents a complex integration of strength, flexibility, balance, and coordination that is closely linked to one’s overall functional mobility.

Heart Healthy Foods

Five Foods That Promote Heart Health

Heart disease remains the leading cause of death among men, women, and most ethnic groups in the United States. While some risk factors—such as age, gender, and family history—are beyond our control, many other factors can be managed through lifestyle choices. Diet, physical activity, stress management, and avoiding tobacco all play a critical role in supporting heart health.

Coping With Seasonal Depression

Winter can take a toll on your mood and energy, especially as daylight hours decrease. Learn how understanding Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and using a few practical strategies can support your mental health throughout the colder months.

How Exercise Improves Brain Health

It’s a new year, which for many of us means setting fitness goals—but exercise isn’t just about building muscle or improving heart health. Staying active is also one of the best ways to support your brain. Regular movement can improve memory, decision-making, and overall cognitive function, which is especially important for reducing the risk of memory loss or dementia.

Start your Journey

Learn more about Sheltering Arms Institute

Contact a specialist at Sheltering Arms Institute to learn more about how you can gain more freedom in your everyday life.