Back to search results

Upper Extremity Training for Chronic Cervical Spinal Cord Injury

This study is looking into how combining activity-based recovery training with targeted spinal cord transcutaneous stimulation (scTS) can help people with chronic cervical spinal cord injury improve the use of their hands, arms, and core. scTS is an electrical stimulation applied to the skin over the spinal cord to help reconnect brain and spinal cord pathways. You might be able to join if you are at least 18 years old and have had a cervical spinal cord injury for at least 6 months. You cannot join if you need a ventilator, have a history of fractures, skin issues like pressure sores, or a history of illicit drug abuse. The main goal is to see how much your neuro recovery improves after 6 months.

Study design
This interventional study plans to enroll 36 participants. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups, two of which involve upper extremity training with transcutaneous spinal stimulation.
What's involved
You will have physical evaluations, tests to check arm and trunk function, questionnaires, and two MRI scans. If in Group 1, you will complete 60 training sessions with transcutaneous spinal stimulation and rehabilitation.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Your neuro recovery will be measured at 6 months after the intervention.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT04921592

Upper Extremity Training for Chronic Cervical Spinal Cord Injury

Recruiting
NAAges 18+Interventional
Kessler Foundation
~36 participants
Updated 2025-05-06 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:upper extremity stimulation

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Neuro Recovery Scale ( NRS).
Measured over 6 months

Conditions

Spinal Cord Injuries

Explore related trials

Spinal Cord Injury

Where it's being run

1 sites across 1 states
New Jersey1

Study leadership

  • Gail F Forrest, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Kessler Foundation

Who to contact

LeighAnn Martinez, BA
[email protected]
973.324.3557
Email the study team

Opens a ready-to-send draft in your own email app — review before sending.

Do you actually qualify for this trial?

Add a private profile and we'll compare every criterion below against your situation — and tell you which ones are met, uncertain, or excluding.

Check eligibility for this trial ~2 min · HIPAA-protected · delete anytime
Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

18 years of age.
spinal cord injury for greater than or equal to 6 months.
spinal cord injury at a cervical neurologic level of injury.

Exclusion

ventilator dependent.
history of fractures.
pressure sore or skin issues.
history of illicit drug abuse.
history of cardiac, respiratory, bladder, renal or other medical disorder unrelated to spinal cord injury.
bladder Botox injections less than 12 months prior.
muscle Botox injections less than 12 months prior.
colostomy bag or urostomy.
implanted pump (i.e., baclofen pump, pain pump, etc).
If I am female: I am pregnant at the time of enrollment or planning to become pregnant during the course of the study.
unable to wean from anti-spasticity medication.
contraindications to MRI imaging (pacemaker, metallic foreign body, aneurysm clip, etc.)

What this trial measures

  • Neuro Recovery Scale ( NRS).6 months

    Measure of the degree a person who has sustained a spinal cord injury (SCI) has recovered the ability to perform functional tasks relative to how the individual performed these tasks prior to injury. The NRS consists of a numeric version of the visual analog scale. The most common form of the NRS is a horizontal line with an eleven point numeric range. It is labeled from zero to ten, with zero being an example of someone with no pain and ten being the worst pain possible. This type of scale can be administered verbally.