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Electrical Stimulation Exercise for People with Spinal Cord Injury: A Healthcare Provider Perspective

J. Clin. Med., 2023 · DOI: 10.3390/jcm12093150 · Published: April 27, 2023

Spinal Cord InjuryNeurologyRehabilitation

Simple Explanation

Electrical stimulation exercise is an important modality to help improve the mobility and health of individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). Electrical stimulation is used to stimulate peripheral nerves in the extremities to assist with muscle strengthening or functional activities such as cycling, rowing, and walking. Electrical stimulation of the peripheral nerves in the upper extremities has become a valuable tool for predicting the risk of hand deformities and rehabilitating functional grasping activities. The purpose of this paper is to provide healthcare providers perspective regarding the many rehabilitation uses of electrical stimulation in diagnosing and treating individuals with SCI. Electrical stimulation has been shown to improve functional mobility and overall health, decrease spasticity, decrease the risk of cardiometabolic conditions associated with inactivity, and assist in the diagnosis/prognosis of hand deformities in those with tetraplegia.

Study Duration
Not specified
Participants
Individuals with Spinal Cord Injury
Evidence Level
Review

Key Findings

  • 1
    NMES and FES activities provided positive results on muscle mass after eight to sixteen weeks of training. Atkins and Bickel [21] reported increases in muscle volume that range from 20–72% with an average increase of 26% among NMES and FES studies.
  • 2
    FES cycling can improve aerobic fitness and has the potential to reduce the risk of cardiovascular and metabolic conditions after SCI.
  • 3
    Current evidence indicates that FES cycling can reduce lower extremities’ spasticity for individuals at all levels of SCI.

Research Summary

As healthcare professionals, we have discussed evidence to help substantiate the importance of the use of electrical stimulation activities for individuals with SCI. These activities can play an important role during rehabilitation and as long-term activities to prevent secondary inactivity-associated conditions, such as cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Additionally, electrical stimulation activities can help determine individual treatment strategies regarding hand function in individuals with cervical SCI.

Practical Implications

Rehabilitation Improvement

Electrical stimulation activities can play an important role during rehabilitation.

Prevention of Secondary Conditions

Long-term electrical stimulation activities can prevent secondary inactivity-associated conditions, such as cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.

Individualized Treatment Strategies

Electrical stimulation activities can help determine individual treatment strategies regarding hand function in individuals with cervical SCI.

Study Limitations

  • 1
    Further study is required to continue to fine-tune the dose-response relationships with rehabilitation and physical conditioning goals
  • 2
    Discover new modalities to aid in the enhancement of the quality of life of people with SCI
  • 3
    The telehealth paradigms were important because, even with a short period of de-training or dose de-escalation, persons with SCI experience a gradual loss in muscle size and a decline in cardio-metabolic gains after a routine training program

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