Spinal cord impairment has a variety of causes. It can either be through traumatizing spinal cord injuries or through the secondhand impact from motor disorders. Whichever the cause, the effects are debilitating and take a toll on an individual's physical and mental health.
In the article "Corticospinal-motor neuronal plasticity promotes exercise-mediated recovery in humans with spinal cord injury", researchers proposed that by targeting specific spinal synapses (depending on the injury) with non invasive stimulation and combining it with exercise can further promote recovery. The effect of paired corticospinal motor neuronal stimulation (PCMS) was tested in individuals with spinal cord injuries in either the cervical, thoracic, or lumber regions. Findings indicated that PCMS is an effective strategy to be used in conjunction with exercise for humans with these injuries. The research revealed that targeting these spinal synapses with PCMS represents a mechanism that engages the residual corticospinal connections after injury which can improve functional recovery. This study is unique because it is one of the very few studies that included participants that received exercise along with neurostimulation. However, there are other non invasive neuromodulatory techniques to be used with individuals with spinal cord injuries that have yet to be explored.
In the article mentioned above, researchers were targeting spinal synapses with stimulation coupled with exercise in order to promote recovery. A similar technique was proposed by researchers at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine. These researchers proposed that spinal cord stimulation can reduce the symptoms of Parkinson's disease which is a neurodegenerative disorder which affects more than 1 million Americans. Parkinson's is characterized by noticeable physical symptoms which includes tremors, difficulty walking and speaking as well as non motor symptoms. Previous therapies proved ineffective which included deep brain stimulation. In this study, researchers planted electrodes near patients' spines and then applied one of three types of electrical stimulation. The patients' reported improvement following the implantation based on motor tests assessing mobility. These findings may suggest that spinal cord stimulation can be a therapeutic treatment from those suffering from pain and motor symptoms as a result from Parkinson's. However, further research is needed to determine if improved motor function is due to decreased pain or if neurological changes are occurring due to the spinal cord stimulation.
Both paired corticospinal motor neuronal stimulation and spinal cord stimulation through electrodes are two different modalities used in order to promote either recovery or therapeutic effects in patients who suffer from complications of the nervous system. The ability to move freely is something that many of us take for granted. In both spinal cord injuries and motor disorders, this ability is greatly affected leaving individuals often feeling hopeless. These techniques show a promising future for the utilization of spinal cord manipulation through stimulation in order to provide relief to patients.
Work Cited:
University of California - San Diego. "Spinal cord stimulation reduces pain and motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease patients: In study, 15 patients with long-term PD and chronic pain and mobility impairment showed improvements across multiple measures." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 28 September 2020. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200928163757.htm>.
Jo, Hang Jin, and Monica A Perez. “Corticospinal-Motor Neuronal Plasticity Promotes Exercise-Mediated Recovery in Humans with Spinal Cord Injury.” Brain, vol. 143, no. 5, 2020, pp. 1368–1382., doi:10.1093/brain/awaa052.
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