Do electrically stimulated sensory inputs and movements lead to long-term plasticity and rehabilitation gains?

Abstract

Peripheral and cortical magnetic and electrical stimulation may find a therapeutic niche as augmentative rehabilitation interventions for lessening impairments and disabilities after brain and spinal cord injury. The momentum for these approaches arose from recent physiological studies that examined the effects of paradigms of stimulation on synaptic and biological adaptations within the cortex and lumbar cord. A case report about improvements made by Christopher Reeve is driving requests by patients with profound spinal cord injury for interventions that include resistance pedaling facilitated by electrical neuromuscular stimulation. Although the evidence for this particular approach is less than convincing, reorganization-inducing cortical and peripheral afferent stimulation protocols offer insights into the steps needed for scientific designs of these potential rehabilitation interventions.