FUNCTIONAL ELECTRICAL STIMULATION INDUCES SPINAL PLASTICITY AND LOCOMOTOR RECOVERY AFTER SPINAL CORD INJURY

Sensorimotor rehabilitation is the most used and effective intervention to promote functional recovery after spinal cord injury (SCI). Although the mechanisms of activity-dependent plasticity within spinal networks are not yet fully understood, studies in both humans and animal models highlight the importance of intrinsic rehabilitation parameters in driving recovery. However, given that the achieved functional gains are often incomplete, alternative or complementary interventions are being explored to enhance sensorimotor outcomes.
The present study investigates locomotor recovery and spinal plasticity in rats with SCI receiving bilateral alternating functional electrical stimulation (FES) of the hindlimb extensor muscles while awake but not engaged in voluntary exercise. Outcomes were compared with those of animals undergoing daily treadmill training. After two months of intervention, both rehabilitated groups showed significant improvements in sensory and motor function relative to untreated injured controls, reflected by an average increase of two points on the BBB locomotor scale. However, no significant differences were detected between the FES and treadmill-trained groups in either behavioral performance or electrophysiological measures.
These findings demonstrate that FES is a feasible approach to induce spinal plasticity and support motor recovery following SCI. Moreover, FES may serve as an effective alternative or adjunct to conventional task-specific rehabilitation strategies.