Role of electrical stimulation for rehabilitation and regeneration after spinal cord injury: an overview

Spinal cord injuries disrupt nerve signals, leading to loss of bodily functions. Electrical stimulation, like FES, can help improve mobility and other functions by stimulating paralyzed muscles. Electrical stimulation can also promote nerve regeneration. Weak direct current fields can encourage neurites to grow towards the cathode, while oscillating fields promote growth in both directions. This article summarizes how electrical stimulation is used for both rehabilitation and nerve regeneration after spinal cord injuries, highlighting the level of recovery achieved in each application.

• 1
  Functional electrical stimulation (FES) can improve mobility and restore other bodily functions lost due to spinal cord injury by stimulating paralyzed muscles.
• 2
  Weakly applied direct current fields can promote regeneration of neurites towards the cathode, while oscillating field stimulation can promote bidirectional regeneration.
• 3
  FES devices have therapeutic applications like cardiovascular conditioning and prevention of muscular atrophy, as well as functional applications like ambulation, respiration assistance, and bowel/bladder control.