Cardiovascular and Respiratory Inter-system Participation

Hypothesis: Epidural stimulation at spinal cord segments L1–S1 with specific targeted cardiovascular configurations can increase resting blood pressure and attenuate orthostatic hypotension in individuals with chronic cervical SCI.

Study

Cardiovascular spinal cord epidural stimulation (CV-scES) and home training for recovery of cardiovascular function following severe spinal cord injury.

Results

The graph below shows orthostatic hypotension was alleviated in four individuals with chronic cervical motor-complete SCI when lumbosacral CV-scES was used during orthostatic stress and after training without stimulation

Summary

• Persistent chronic hypotension was alleviated with epidural stimulation in four individuals with chronic cervical motor-complete SCI with lumbosacral CV-CV-scES
• Orthostatic hypotension was alleviated in four individuals with chronic cervical motor-complete SCI when lumbosacral CV-scES was used during orthostatic stress.
• This improved cardiovascular response was observed post Daily CV-scES training without stimulation.
• These results suggest there is an immediate cardiovascular responsiveness with stimulation that persists after training, suggesting long-term adaptation.

Epidural Stimulation Program

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Motor Control

Cardiovascular and Respiratory

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Proof of Principle

Inter-System Participation

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Bladder, Bowel and Sexual Function

Publications – Epidural Stimulation