Activating Spinal Circuits to Improve Walking, Balance, Strength and Reduce Spasticity

The intervention development activities proposed in our Site-specific Project will address the goal that many individuals with SCI have for accessible approaches to improve walking-related outcomes, balance, and strength and reduce spasticity. This study is intended to obtain a preliminary assessment of the combination of a moderate-intensity motor skill training and transcutaneous spinal stimulation. Together these may represent an “active component” with potential to yield greater positive outcomes than either motor skill training alone or transcutaneous spinal stimulation alone. We will identify participant characteristics that influence outcomes to better define the most responsive target population, and determine effect size and variance in the outcomes of interest. Results from this study will provide information that is important to for the design of a larger intervention study, and for translating the findings to the real world of the clinic.