UCLA

Electrical neuromodulation of spinal networks improves the control of movement of the paralyzed limbs after spinal cord injury (SCI). However, the potential of noninvasive spinal stimulation to facilitate postural trunk control during sitting in humans with SCI has not been investigated. This body of work demonstrates 1) that the spinal networks can be modulated transcutaneously with tonic electrical spinal stimulation to physiological states sufficient to improve trunk stability and postural control in the acute and chronic setting in individuals with chronic paralysis and 2) the feasibility of developing a personalized neuromusculoskeletal modeling. The conjunction of transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation and personalized neuromusculoskeletal modeling can be used to develop novel rehabilitation programs to improve and track functional recovery of trunk stability and postural control in individuals with spinal cord injury.