Current progress of rehabilitative strategies in stem cell therapy for spinal cord injury: a review

npj Regenerative Medicine, 2021 · DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41536-021-00191-7 · Published: October 21, 2021

Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Regenerative Medicine & Stem Cells

Simple Explanation

Stem cell therapy offers hope for restoring function after spinal cord injury (SCI). Combining this with rehabilitation, known as regenerative rehabilitation, may boost recovery. Regenerative rehabilitation uses conditioning, functional training, and exercise to enhance the benefits of stem cell treatments, maximizing the chances of regaining lost abilities. This review explores how rehabilitation and stem cell therapies work together, offering insights into improving outcomes for individuals with SCI.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

Not specified

Evidence Level

Review Article

Key Findings

1
Regenerative rehabilitation can be categorized into conditioning/reconditioning, functional training, and physical exercise, which are indispensable for enhancing functional recovery achieved using stem cell therapies.
2
Preclinical studies show that combining stem cell therapy with rehabilitation promotes axonal regeneration, synaptogenesis, and neuronal differentiation.
3
Clinical studies suggest that the intensity and type of rehabilitation influence long-term outcomes in patients undergoing stem cell therapy for SCI.

Research Summary

This review summarizes the current progress of rehabilitative strategies in stem cell therapy for spinal cord injury. Regenerative rehabilitation is attracting wide attention owing to its synergistic effects, feasibility, non-invasiveness, and diverse and systemic properties. The main roles of regenerative rehabilitation can be categorized as conditioning/reconditioning, functional training, and physical exercise, all of which are indispensable for enhancing functional recovery achieved using stem cell therapies. In the ﬁeld of stem cell regenerative medicine, the role of rehabilitation is becoming increasingly important, with preclinical studies delineating the molecular mechanisms and effects. Studies of combinatorial treatment have reported synergistic effects.

Practical Implications

Optimizing Rehabilitation Protocols

Further research is needed to determine the appropriate dose, intensity, and training method for regenerative rehabilitation in each SCI model.

Enhancing Functional Recovery

Combining stem cell therapy and rehabilitation with pharmacological treatments, bioengineering, or molecular biology approaches may further broaden the therapeutic potential of SCI treatment.

Personalized Treatment Strategies

Rehabilitative interventions should be tailored to address individual patient needs, considering factors like chronicity of injury and specific functional deficits.

Study Limitations

1
Lack of standardized rehabilitative methods in preclinical studies.
2
Limited number of preclinical studies investigating combinatorial effects of stem cell therapy and rehabilitation, especially in chronic SCI.
3
The specific contribution of regenerative rehabilitation to forelimb functional recovery has not been reported.

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