Welcome to our latest exploration in the captivating realm of neurorehabilitation. Today, we venture into the innovative field of transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (tSCS) - a groundbreaking approach that has been making waves in recent years. Like Functional Electrical Stimulation, Neurofeedback and biofeedback, tSCS is within the general category of applications being referred to as neuromodulation.

Essentially, tSCS is a non-invasive method that involves sending small electrical currents transcutaneously to stimulate the spinal cord. Research has been underway to utilise tSCS in rehabilitating individuals with spinal cord injuries, opening new doors to hope and recovery.

By the end of this blog post, we aim to enlighten you about the science behind tSCS, and the potential it holds for improving the quality of life in spinal cord injury survivors

We should shortly see the emergence of new spinal cord stimulation products that can assist rehabilitation, as the first examples are approaching commercialisation. Although not a cure for spinal cord injury, these devices have been shown to assist in the recovery of function in situations where this seemed lost for ever.

Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) has a rich history that dates back to the 1960s, when it was first introduced as a potential treatment for chronic pain management. Pioneered by Dr. Norman Shealy (1967) this innovative method was initially developed to alleviate intractable pain by delivering mild electrical pulse trains to the spinal cord via implantation of electrodes.

Over the years, the field of SCS has witnessed significant advancements in both technology and research, broadening its potential applications to include functional recovery following spinal cord injury (SCI).

This article looks briefly at the state of the art.