Abdominal Electrical Stimulation for Bowel Dysfunction in SCI
Key facts
- Where
- Edmonton, CanadaSee the site
Could this be for you?
Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.
- Are you between 18 and 80 years old?
Source: NCT06948175, who can take part
Where in Canada
- Glenrose Rehabilitation HospitalEdmonton, CanadaNo longer taking part
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations
Print a page for my doctorTrial details
- Who runs it
- University of Alberta
- Trial code
- NCT06948175
- Record updated
- 25 June 2026
- Original description
Many people with spinal cord injury (SCI) have bowel problems resulting in constipation and need a long time to empty the bowel. Some people spend an hour or more to empty their bowel. The investigators want test if using a small device to deliver electrical pulses to the belly (abdomen), would improve bowel function. The investigators hope that electrical stimulation will shorten the time needed to evacuate the bowel (defecation), improve stool consistency, and speed up food passing through the bowel. A pilot study found that electrical stimulation of the belly can speed up defecation if stimulation is making the abdominal muscles contract and squeeze the belly, which is what the investigators expected. However, some results suggested that people may benefit from low stimulation levels without making the muscles contract.Read full original descriptionShow less
Abdominal Transcutaneous Electrical Stimulation to Alleviate Neurogenic Bowel Dysfunction in People With Chronic Spinal Cord Injury
Many people with spinal cord injury (SCI) have bowel problems resulting in constipation and need a long time to empty the bowel. Some people spend an hour or more to empty their bowel. The investigators want test if using a small device to deliver electrical pulses to the belly (abdomen), would improve bowel function. The investigators hope that electrical stimulation will shorten the time needed to evacuate the bowel (defecation), improve stool consistency, and speed up food passing through the bowel. A pilot study found that electrical stimulation of the belly can speed up defecation if stimulation is making the abdominal muscles contract and squeeze the belly, which is what the investigators expected. However, some results suggested that people may benefit from low stimulation levels without making the muscles contract.
Therefore, the investigators will do small study at the University of Alberta on 12 people who lived with SCI for more than 1 year, to find out the best way to apply the electrical stimulation, and to better understand how it works. The participants will use an electrical stimulator at home, to stimulate the skin with 4 sticky pads attached over the abdomen, without causing the muscles to contract. During a 2-month period, they will use the stimulator for 30 minutes before every bowel routine. The investigators will compare how long it takes to empty the bowel, stool consistency, and how long it takes for food to pass through the bowel, with and without using the electrical stimulator.
Inclusion: Traumatic or non-traumatic SCI; >1 year post injury; Injury level C2 - S5 (NLI, neurological level of injury); AIS A, B, C, D (American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale); Feels defecation takes too long and wants to do something about it; Defecation takes > 30 minutes.
Exclusion: Inflammatory bowel disease; Bladder stimulator; Pregnancy; Unable to give consent.