Muscle and bone plasticity after spinal cord injury: Review of adaptations to disuse and to electrical muscle stimulation

After a spinal cord injury, the musculoskeletal system adapts significantly. Muscles atrophy and shift towards a faster, more easily fatigued state. Bones lose mineral density due to the lack of weight-bearing and muscle activity. Electrical stimulation of paralyzed muscles can counteract these negative changes. It helps prevent muscle atrophy and bone density decline, suggesting it can be a useful tool in rehabilitation. Rehabilitation specialists need to develop strategies to minimize musculoskeletal deterioration after SCI, particularly as treatments for SCI improve, so people are in better shape for a potential cure.

• 1
  Chronic SCI leads to a transformation of muscle fibers from slow, fatigue-resistant to fast, fatigable types, accompanied by biochemical changes.
• 2
  Electrical stimulation training can induce hypertrophy and improve fatigue resistance in paralyzed human muscle.
• 3
  Electrical stimulation of paralyzed muscles can prevent post-SCI bone mineral density decline, especially in trabecular bone.