TsDCS and Physical Therapy After Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury

Condition(s) studied

Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)

Trans-spinal direct current stimulation: Patients with a neurological level above T10 will receive cervical tsDCS (anode electrode at C7, and the cathode electrode on the right shoulder). Patients with a neurological level from T10 onwards will receive thoracic tsDCS (anode electrode at T10, and the cathode electrode at the iliac crest). (i) Experimental group (active tsDCS): electrical stimulator (Neuroconn/Germany) connected to a pair of saline-soaked sponge electrodes (35 cm²) with a current intensity of 2.5 mA for 20 minutes. (ii) Control group (sham tsDCS) with electrodes positioned at the same locations as active tsDCS, for 30 seconds (the setup will remain for the full 20 minutes). Thus, patients will experience the initial sensations at the stimulated site, without inducing an effect. Physical therapy will be performed during tsDCS (45 minutes), based on scientific evidence, considering patient preferences, and respecting motor learning theory and neuroplasticity principles, focusing on motor function recovery.

Study summary

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of tsDCS combined with physical therapy on the recovery of motor function in adult patients with chronic incomplete spinal cord injury.

Eligibility

Primary outcome measure(s)

• Changes in the Upper and Lower Extremities Motor Scale (UEMS and LEMS) from ASIA. — Before the sessions, after 10 sessions (10 days of intervention) and one month (30 days) following the completion of the study.
  It is an international scale. The UEMS and LEMS are composed of the sum of muscle function grading for the five key muscles of the upper and lower limbs (respectively) as defined by ASIA. The score for each muscle is graded from '0' to '5', and the total score can range from '0' to '50'. To calculate this, the scores for the five muscles of each limb (upper and lower/ left and right) should be summed. The higher the score, the better the motor function.

Trial sites (1)

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