Transcutaneous Spinal Cord Stimulation in Healthy Adults

NCT ID: NCT06116838

Last Updated: 2025-04-13

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

Get a concise snapshot of the trial, including recruitment status, study phase, enrollment targets, and key timeline milestones.

Recruitment Status

NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

50 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2025-10-31

Study Completion Date

2028-12-31

Brief Summary

Review the sponsor-provided synopsis that highlights what the study is about and why it is being conducted.

The goal of this study is to understand how transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (tSCS) waveform, modulation frequency, and stimulation location impact lower extremity muscle activation and participant comfort in adults without neurologic conditions.

Detailed Description

Dive into the extended narrative that explains the scientific background, objectives, and procedures in greater depth.

Investigators will use a test-retest design comparing neurophysiologic measures while receiving various combinations of stimulation waveforms, modulation frequencies, and stimulation locations to determine the settings which lead to the highest participant tolerance with the lowest lower extremity resting motor thresholds (RMTs).

Conditions

See the medical conditions and disease areas that this research is targeting or investigating.

Healthy Adults

Study Design

Understand how the trial is structured, including allocation methods, masking strategies, primary purpose, and other design elements.

Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

SEQUENTIAL

The purpose of these visits is to determine the optimal waveform and stimulation location. In order to make this determination, we will first determine what stimulation waveform allows us to reach Resting Motor Threshold (RMT) with the lowest intensity but it is the most comfortable when walking at higher intensities. We will use a test-retest design comparing neurophysiologic measures while participants receive various combinations of stimulation waveforms, modulation frequencies, and stimulation locations.
Primary Study Purpose

OTHER

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Participants

Study Groups

Review each arm or cohort in the study, along with the interventions and objectives associated with them.

Carrier frequency + Waveform

Spinally Evoked Motor Potentials (sEMP) will be obtained while stimulating the spinal cord at a single site with single pulses. sEMP are the electromyograph responses of the peripheral muscles to electrical stimulation of the spinal cord. We will test various waveform combinations of biphasic and monophasic waveforms with modulation frequencies of 0-10 kHz. Participants will also ambulate while receiving continuous stimulation of the various waveform combinations to determine what stimulation intensity is comfortable for each combination. The order we complete this testing will be randomized. All participants will perform testing in a different order.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Spinal motor evoked responses (sMERs)

Intervention Type DEVICE

Spinally Evoked Motor Responses (sMERs) will be obtained while stimulating with single pulses using various stimulation parameters. sMERs are the electromyograph (EMG) responses of the peripheral muscles to electrical stimulation of the spinal cord. sEMP will be used to test the integrity of the motor pathways of the spinal cord. This will be measuring by assessing the EMG responses in the lower limb muscles.

Continuous stimulation tolerance

Intervention Type DEVICE

Participants may receive up to 45 min of locomotion training (treadmill or overground training) with transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation. The goal will be for the investigators to determine what amount of intensity at each stimulation site the individual finds to be comfortable enough that they would be able to receive without pain or discomfort

Stimulation Location

Spinally Evoked Motor Potentials (sEMP) will be obtained while stimulating the spinal cord at various stimulation locations with single pulses. sEMP are the electromyograph responses of the peripheral muscles to electrical stimulation of the spinal cord. Participants will also ambulate while receiving continuous stimulation to various stimulation locations to determine what stimulation intensity is comfortable for each location. The order we complete this testing will be randomized. All participants will perform testing in a different order.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Spinal motor evoked responses (sMERs)

Intervention Type DEVICE

Spinally Evoked Motor Responses (sMERs) will be obtained while stimulating with single pulses using various stimulation parameters. sMERs are the electromyograph (EMG) responses of the peripheral muscles to electrical stimulation of the spinal cord. sEMP will be used to test the integrity of the motor pathways of the spinal cord. This will be measuring by assessing the EMG responses in the lower limb muscles.

Continuous stimulation tolerance

Intervention Type DEVICE

Participants may receive up to 45 min of locomotion training (treadmill or overground training) with transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation. The goal will be for the investigators to determine what amount of intensity at each stimulation site the individual finds to be comfortable enough that they would be able to receive without pain or discomfort

Interventions

Learn about the drugs, procedures, or behavioral strategies being tested and how they are applied within this trial.

Spinal motor evoked responses (sMERs)

Spinally Evoked Motor Responses (sMERs) will be obtained while stimulating with single pulses using various stimulation parameters. sMERs are the electromyograph (EMG) responses of the peripheral muscles to electrical stimulation of the spinal cord. sEMP will be used to test the integrity of the motor pathways of the spinal cord. This will be measuring by assessing the EMG responses in the lower limb muscles.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Continuous stimulation tolerance

Participants may receive up to 45 min of locomotion training (treadmill or overground training) with transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation. The goal will be for the investigators to determine what amount of intensity at each stimulation site the individual finds to be comfortable enough that they would be able to receive without pain or discomfort

Intervention Type DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

Check the participation requirements, including inclusion and exclusion rules, age limits, and whether healthy volunteers are accepted.

Inclusion Criteria

* Age 18-75 years old
* Able and willing to give written consent and comply with study procedures

Exclusion Criteria

* History of stroke or neurologic pathologies (such as multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, etc.)
* Pregnant or nursing
* Skin allergies or irritation; open wounds
* Utilizing a powered, implanted cardiac device for monitoring or supporting heart function (i.e. pacemaker, defibrillator, or LVAD)
* History of seizures or epilepsy
* Active cancer or cancer in remission less than 5 years
* Metal implants in the back or spine
* Painful musculoskeletal dysfunction due to injury or infection
* Unstable cardiorespiratory or metabolic diseases (e.g. cardiac arrhythmia, uncontrolled hypertension, uncontrolled diabetes, or chronic emphysema)
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

75 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

Meet the organizations funding or collaborating on the study and learn about their roles.

Shirley Ryan AbilityLab

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

Identify the individual or organization who holds primary responsibility for the study information submitted to regulators.

Arun Jayaraman, PT, PhD

Executive Director, Technology & Innovation Hub (tiHUB); Director, Max Näder Center for Rehabilitation Technologies & Outcomes Research

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Learn about the lead researchers overseeing the trial and their institutional affiliations.

Arun Jayarman, PT, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Shirley Ryan AbilityLab

Locations

Explore where the study is taking place and check the recruitment status at each participating site.

Shirley Ryan AbilityLab

Chicago, Illinois, United States

Site Status

Countries

Review the countries where the study has at least one active or historical site.

United States

Central Contacts

Reach out to these primary contacts for questions about participation or study logistics.

Kelly McKenzie, PT, DPT

Role: CONTACT

2175210169

Sara Prokup, PT, DPT

Role: CONTACT

312-238-1355

Facility Contacts

Find local site contact details for specific facilities participating in the trial.

Kelly A McKenzie, PT, DPT

Role: primary

312-238-7111

Shreya Aalla, BS

Role: backup

312-238-7323

Other Identifiers

Review additional registry numbers or institutional identifiers associated with this trial.

STU00219704

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

More Related Trials

Additional clinical trials that may be relevant based on similarity analysis.