University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine researchers found cervical spinal cord stimulation improved arm strength and reduced spasticity among seven people with chronic post-stroke arm weakness.
According to a study published June 4 in Nature Medicine, Participants experienced an average 32% increase in arm strength when stimulation was active. Spasticity decreased in all seven participants and no serious adverse events were reported.
The intervention involved fewer than nine hours of movement-based training over four weeks. Motor function declined when stimulation was discontinued.
Researchers have begun recruiting participants for an extended clinical trial to evaluate longer-term stimulation alone and in combination with physical therapy, according to a June 4 news release from the University of Pittsburgh.
Researchers from New York City-based Columbia University, Baltimore-based Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore and Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh also worked on the study.
At the Becker’s 32nd Annual Meeting: The Business and Operations of ASCs, taking place October 29-31 in Chicago, ASC leaders, surgeons and healthcare executives will explore strategies to drive growth, enhance operational performance, navigate reimbursement challenges and prepare for the future of ambulatory surgery. Apply for complimentary registration now.
