Transcutaneous Electrical Spinal Stimulation to Restore Upper Extremity Functions in Spinal Cord Injury

Exclusion Criteria

• •Autoimmune etiology of spinal cord dysfunction/injury
• •History of additional neurologic disease, such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury, etc.
• •Peripheral neuropathy (diabetic polyneuropathy, entrapment neuropathy, etc.)
• •Rheumatic diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, etc.)
• •Significant medical disease; including uncontrolled systemic hypertension with values above 170/100 mmHg; cardiac or pulmonary disease; uncorrected coagulation abnormalities or need for therapeutic anticoagulation.
• •Active cancer
• •Cardiovascular or musculoskeletal disease or injury that would prevent full participation in physical therapy intervention
• •Unhealed fracture, contracture, pressure sore, or urinary tract infection or other illnesses that might interfere with upper extremity rehabilitation or testing activities
• •Any condition that would render the patient unable to safely cooperate with the study tests as judged by the screening physician
• •Pregnancy
• •Tendon or nerve transfer surgery in the upper limbs
• •Botulinum toxin injections in the prior 6 months
• •Dependent on ventilation support
• •Implanted stimulator (e.g. vagus nerve stimulator, pacemaker, cochlear implant, etc).
• •Has depression or anxiety based on Patient Health Questionnaire and General Anxiety Disorder-7 item Questionnaire
• •Diagnosed with syringomyelia
• •Alcohol and/or drug abuse.
• •Cognitive impairment based on Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire
• •Unable to read and/or comprehend the consent form.
• •Unable to understand the instructions given as part of the study.