Methods to Quantify Pharmacologically Induced Alterations in Motor Function in Human Incomplete SCI

Spinal cord injury (SCI) often leads to motor control deficits, and rehabilitation is a long-term process. While regaining walking ability is a key goal, motor impairments like weakness and spasticity can hinder recovery. It's commonly believed that addressing abnormal motor reflexes will improve patient function. Recent research suggests that neuromodulatory agents, specifically those affecting serotonin (5HT) and norepinephrine (NE), can stimulate or enhance walking in animal SCI models. Interestingly, some of these agents, like 5HTergic agonists, can increase spinal excitability and reflex activity. This video demonstrates a systematic way to quantitatively evaluate how SSRIs affect reflex activity, strength, and walking ability in people with SCI. The study involves administering agents on single days to observe immediate effects, with plans for longer studies combining drug administration and intensive physical therapy.

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  Following oral administration of SSRI in an individual with motor incomplete SCI there are notable alterations in clinical measures of motor activity.
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  Augmented and prolonged ankle plantarflexion torque and EMG are observed in response to repeated stretches of the plantarflexors following SSRI administration.
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  Analyses of variability of hip and knee kinematics during ambulation using ACC reveals that there is an increased consistency following SSRI medication, both pre and post measures are at 0.7 m/s.