Noninvasive Electrical Modalities to Alleviate Respiratory Deficits Following Spinal Cord Injury

Respiratory dysfunction is a major issue after spinal cord injury (SCI), resulting from the disruption of signals to the muscles needed for breathing. This affects both the brain's control and the muscles themselves, making it hard to breathe effectively. Noninvasive electrical stimulation techniques are being explored to help restore respiratory function by targeting the nerves and muscles involved in breathing. Spinal cord transcutaneous stimulation (scTS) is emerging as a promising method. A clinical trial showed scTS can improve respiratory motor performance.

• 1
  Spinal cord transcutaneous stimulation (scTS) shows promise for respiratory rehabilitation in SCI patients.
• 2
  Heterogeneity in SCI populations and stimulation protocols across studies necessitates standardization and individualized optimization.
• 3
  An exploratory clinical trial confirmed the effectiveness of scTS in enhancing respiratory motor performance.