Transcutaneous Stimulation for Blood Pressure in Spinal Cord Injury

This study is looking at how a device called the Biostim-5 transcutaneous spinal stimulator affects blood pressure in people with chronic spinal cord injuries (SCI) who have unstable blood pressure, especially when they stand up (orthostatic hypotension). This condition can cause dizziness and weakness. The study will try to find the best places on the spine and the best settings for the stimulator to help stabilize blood pressure. You might be able to join if you are between 18 and 75 years old, have had a spinal cord injury for at least 6 months at or above the T6 level, and experience low blood pressure (systolic blood pressure below 90mmHg) or other symptoms of low blood pressure when moving upright. The study aims to find the most effective stimulation sites and frequencies, and to see if repeated stimulation sessions improve blood pressure stability over about 6 weeks. The current status of the study is unclear.

Study design
This interventional study plans to enroll 5 participants. It will involve mapping to find optimal stimulation sites and frequencies.
What's involved
You will undergo mapping sessions to determine optimal stimulation sites and frequencies, which will take an average of 3 weeks. Throughout the experiment, lasting an average of 6 weeks, your systolic blood pressure will be measured.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
The efficacy of stimulation on systolic blood pressure will be measured throughout the experiment, which averages 6 weeks.

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NCT05725499

The Effect of Transcutaneous Stimulation on Blood Pressure in Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)

Recruiting
NAAges 18–75InterventionalTreatment
Kessler Foundation
~5 participants
Updated 2025-09-02 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Biostim-5 transcutaneous spinal stimulatorTilt-table orthostatic stress testing

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Optimal stimulation sites
Measured over Through Mapping and testing sessions, average of 3 weeks
+4 more outcomes measured
Spinal Cord Injuries
Hypotension
Orthostatic Hypotension
Spinal Cord Diseases
Cardiovascular Diseases
Trauma, Nervous System
Central Nervous System Diseases
Nervous System Diseases
Blood Pressure
1 sites across 1 states
New Jersey1
  • Gail F Forrest, Phd · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Kessler Foundation

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Spinal cord injury for greater than or equal to 6 months
Injury level ≥ T6 (thoracic level)
American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale (AIS) A-D
Exhibits at least one of the following hypotensive symptoms:

Exclusion

Current illness (infection, a pressure injury that might interfere with the intervention, a recent diagnosis of DVT/PE, etc.)
Ventilator-dependent
History of implanted brain/spine/nerve stimulators
Cardiac pacemaker/defibrillator or intra-cardiac lines
Significant coronary artery or cardiac conduction disease, a recent history of myocardial infarction
Insufficient mental capacity to understand and independently provide consent
Pregnancy
Cancer
Deemed unsuitable by study physician
  • Optimal stimulation sitesThrough Mapping and testing sessions, average of 3 weeks

    Identify scTS spinal segments that restore systolic BP within the normotensive range (110-120 mmHg).

  • Optimal stimulation frequencyThrough Mapping and testing sessions, average of 3 weeks

    Identify scTS frequency that restores systolic BP within the normotensive range (110-120 mmHg).

  • Systolic blood pressure - efficacy of stimulationThroughout the experiment, average of 6 weeks

    Evaluate changes in blood pressure during an orthostatic test (comparing measurements obtained during stimulation to those obtained without). The ability of scTS to normalize SBP (to the range of 110-120) and to stabilize it over the course of a 30-min tilt test will be assessed.

  • Systolic blood pressure - effect of trainingPost training, average of 2 weeks

    Explore the blood pressure response to orthostatic stress with and without stimulation, following six days of repetitive 30-min customized scTS sessions

  • Orthostatic symptoms questionnaireThroughout the experiment, average of 6 weeks

    A questionnaire ranking the severity of orthostatic symptoms (dizziness, nausea), with a scale of 1-10 (10 being the most severe).