Transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation effects on spasticity in patients with spinal cord injury: A systematic review

The Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine, 2023 · DOI: 10.1080/10790268.2021.2000200 · Published: April 1, 2023

Simple Explanation

Spasticity, a common issue after spinal cord injury (SCI), can lower a patient's functional abilities. This review looks at whether transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (tSCS) can help reduce spasticity in SCI patients. The review analyzed six studies, finding varied evidence on tSCS's effectiveness in reducing spasticity post-SCI. While tSCS appears safe, more robust studies are needed to confirm its benefits for chronic SCI patients. The study suggests that tSCS might help by influencing spinal circuits and neurotransmitter release. However, the included studies had limitations like small sample sizes and varied treatment protocols, making it difficult to draw firm conclusions.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

42 patients with spinal cord injury

Evidence Level

Systematic Review of pilot studies and one case series

Key Findings

1
The review found heterogenous evidence for the effects of tSCS on spasticity reduction post-SCI, indicating that the results across studies were not consistent.
2
TSCS appears to be a safe and well-tolerated intervention in patients with SCI, as the included studies did not report any adverse effects or harmful complications.
3
The evidence for the effectiveness of tSCS on spasticity in chronic SCI patients is limited, suggesting that more research is needed to confirm its benefits.

Research Summary

This systematic review investigated the effects of transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (tSCS) on spasticity in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). The review included six studies, revealing heterogenous evidence for the positive effects of tSCS on spasticity in patients with SCI. The review concludes that while tSCS appears safe for SCI patients, more high-quality studies are needed to confirm its effectiveness in reducing spasticity.

Practical Implications

Clinical Practice

Clinicians should be aware of the limited evidence regarding tSCS effectiveness for spasticity in SCI patients and consider it as one option among others.

Future Research

Future studies should focus on randomized controlled trials with larger sample sizes and standardized tSCS protocols to determine the optimal treatment dosage and long-term effects.

Patient Safety

TSCS appears safe and well-tolerated, but careful monitoring is still recommended when applying it to SCI patients.

Study Limitations

1
The selected studies were published in English, potentially excluding relevant research in other languages.
2
The review included only pilot studies and a case series, indicating a lack of high-quality randomized controlled trials.
3
A meta-analysis was not performed due to the heterogeneity between the included studies, limiting the ability to draw definitive conclusions.

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