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Muscle or spine stimulation for arm recovery after spinal cord injury

Compares muscle and spine stimulation for arms after spinal cord injury.

Key facts

Who runs it
Center for Veterans Research and Education
Where
Minneapolis, United StatesSee the site
Trial code
Registry title
Functional Electrical Stimulation vs Transcutaneous Stimulation in Patients With Subacute Spinal Cord Injury
Status
Recruiting
People taking part
20 people, planned
Started
18 Jun 2026
Expected to end
1 Jun 2030
Type of study
Interventional, 2 groupsOne group gets an existing treatment, for comparison.
Treatments tested
  • RTI Xcite
  • ExaStim
Record updated
3 November 2026

Who can take part

AI summary

From the trial's eligibility criteria. Machine-read from the registry text on this page, so it can be wrong. The registry text below and the trial team decide who can take part.

The trial is looking for veterans in the Minneapolis VA spinal cord injury rehab unit after a recent non-traumatic neck-level spinal cord injury. It compares two kinds of electrical stimulation for arm and hand function.

Age
18 years and older
Sex
All sexes. Women of childbearing years cannot join.
Disease stage
Non-traumatic spinal cord injury at level T2 or above, AIS grade A, B, C or D. Injury began within 90 days before joining. Admitted for sub-acute rehabilitation.
Earlier treatment
No botulinum toxin injections into the arm in the prior 3 months.

Main reasons for not taking part

  • Pacemaker, defibrillator, implanted stimulation device, or unknown metal in the body such as shrapnel
  • Pregnancy, or being a woman of childbearing years
  • Need for a breathing machine (ventilator), or uncontrolled severe autonomic dysreflexia, heart-lung disease or seizures
  • Other nerve or brain condition affecting the arms, such as stroke or brain injury
  • BMI over 40.0, open wounds where pads go, or allergy to hydrogel, silicone or latex

The registry criteria, word for word

Show all 2 criteriaShow less

Who can take part

  • • Veterans admitted to the Minneapolis VA Health Care System's (MVAHCS) SCI inpatient unit for sub-acute rehabilitation following non-traumatic cervical SCI; Veterans are eligible for enrollment within 90 days of the onset of their spinal cord injury; Non-traumatic SCI, level T2 or above; AIS A,B,C,D; Age 18+

Who cannot take part

  • • Study clinicians determine that the veteran would likely not benefit from FES; Open wounds where electrodes would be placed; Cognitive impairments identified during the consent process indicating a veteran's Inability to comprehend essential information about the study; Contraindications to electrical stimulation (pacemaker, defibrillator, pregnancy, active tissue infection in area of stimulation); Active implanted medical device for electrical stimulation; Other internal metallic objects of unknown or foreign origin (unidentifiable surgical implants, shrapnel, bullet fragments, etc.); Acute medical conditions under active treatment that would contraindicate standard rehabilitation." History of a non-SCID related neurological condition (stroke, brain injury, etc.) impacting upper extremity; Uncontrolled, severe autonomic dysreflexia; Need for ventilator support; Inability to participate in therapy session >60 minutes; Botulinum toxin injections to the upper limb in prior 3 months; BMI > 40.0 (morbid obesity); Allergy to hydrogel, silicone, latex or other product materials; Uncontrolled cardiopulmonary disease; Uncontrolled epilepsy or seizures; Unmanaged depression, psychiatric disorders or ongoing substance abuse; Participation in another clinical trial that may interfere with this study; Pregnancy is contra-indicated for both TSS and FES. Women of childbearing years will be excluded as the enrollment timeline won't allow time for pregnancy testing

Where in United States

  • Minneapolis VA Health Care SystemsMinneapolis, United StatesContact: Jennifer L Robb, PhDTaking people

About the trial

What the trial wants to find out

Cervical spinal cord injuries (SCI) are the most common form of spinal cord injuries within the veteran population. Losing arm function is a major concern with these injuries. Doctors often use a treatment called functional electrical stimulation (FES) during rehab sessions targeted at improving arm and hand function. For FES, clinicians places sticky pads on the skin over the muscles that need to move. A newer treatment, called transcutaneous spinal stimulation (TSS), places the pads on the skin over the spine instead. This study compares the two treatments in veterans with non-traumatic spinal cord injuries while they are in the hospital's rehab program. The main goal is to see how well each treatment improves arm and hand function, which is measured with the Capabilities of Upper Extremity Test. If TSS works well, it could help veterans regain more arm and hand function which may result in increased independence.

The 2 groups in the trial

  • Functional electrical stimulationExisting treatment, for comparison

    RTI Xcite

    Treatment: RTI Xcite

  • Transcutaneous spinal stimulationTreatment being tested

    ExaStim

    Treatment: ExaStim

Questions to ask the study team

  1. How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
  2. Are travel costs paid?
  3. Can I keep my own doctor?
  4. What happens if I want to stop?

Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations

Print a page for my doctor

Data and sources

Registry record
Listed on ClinicalTrials.gov.
Official title
Comparison of Traditional Functional Electrical Stimulation to Transcutaneous Stimulation on Upper Extremity Outcomes in Patients With Subacute Spinal Cord Injury
Plain-language title
Muscle or spine stimulation for arm recovery after spinal cord injuryGenerated from the registry record. The registry title is the official one.
AI summary
From the trial's eligibility criteria. Read by machine on 14 November 2026.
Record updated
3 November 2026