Improved Gait Symmetry with Spinal Cord Transcutaneous Stimulation: Effects on Muscle Activity for Subjects with SCI
摘要
Individualized spinal cord transcutaneous stimulation (scTS) parameters during overground gait training facilitate coordination in kinematics profiles in individuals with incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI). We extended our work to evaluate the immediate and within session motor response changes during gait, with and without stimulation. For gait trials with scTS, there was an immediate effect on the intralimb coefficient of variation for lower-extremity muscle groups compared to trials without scTS. Post training intervention, when trials of overground gait training combined with stimulation were compared to trials with stimulation at baseline, the results showed reduced interlimb coefficient of variation in muscles corresponding to spinal stimulation sites. These changes suggest that voluntary motor gains demonstrate the effectiveness of targeted scTS+training, and its sustenance post training.