More Hope for Improvement in Upper Extremity Motor Strength and Function for Survivors of Cervical Spinal Cord Injury
Melissa D. Carter, Attorney at Law Adler Giersch, P.S., WSCA Leadership Level Corporate Partner
Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating neurological condition that leads to loss of motor and sensory function. Spinal cord injury symptoms often lead to impairments in limb movement, respiration, bowel and bladder function, and second complications such as pain, spasticity and pressure ulcers. Numerous treatment interventions, such as neuroprotection, regeneration, pharmacology, rehabilitation training and functional electrical stimulation have been investigated to improve function after SCI.
In a recent study published in Nature Medicine on May 20, 2024,1 researchers from University of Washington, Emory University School of Medicine, and Craig Hospital discovered several spinal cord injury treatment options, such spinal stimulation and physical therapy. These treatments improved strength, mobility, sensation, and function of arms and hands for most of the study’s participants.
How does a spinal cord injury affect your body and impact your life? A SCI disrupts the bidirectional communication between
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the regions of the brain and spinal cord that produce and regulate essential neurological functions. When the SCI occurs in the cervical segments, the result is often permanent impairment of arm and hand function.
Researchers conducted a prospective, single-arm, multicenter, open-label, non-significant risk trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of “ARCEX Therapy” in people with chronic SCI. The treatment involved externally applied electrical stimulation over the cervical spine cord during structured rehabilitation. 72% of participants demonstrated improvements, greater than minimal, in strength and functional domains. Significant improvements were noted in fingertip pinch force, hand prehension and strength, upper extremity motor and sensory abilities, and self-reported increases in quality of life.
The ARCEX
device is under evaluation for the improvement of arm and hand functions after chronic cervical SCI. This trial assessed the safety of this tool to modulate the activity of
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