Efficacy of Temporal Interference Electrical Stimulation for Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation: A Case Series

TL;DR

This case series demonstrates that non-invasive temporal interference electrical stimulation can significantly improve motor, sensory, and functional outcomes in patients with incomplete spinal cord injury, offering a promising rehabilitation approach.

Contribution

The study provides initial evidence that TI stimulation is effective for SCI rehabilitation, highlighting its potential as a non-invasive alternative to traditional methods.

Findings

Participants showed significant neurological improvements.

Injury levels shifted upward in all cases.

Functional independence scores increased notably.

Abstract

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a debilitating condition that often results in significant motor and sensory deficits, impacting the quality of life. Current rehabilitation methods, including physical therapy and electrical stimulation, offer variable outcomes and often require invasive procedures. Temporal interference (TI) stimulation has emerged as a novel, non-invasive neuromodulation technique capable of targeting deep neural structures with precision, providing a promising alternative for SCI rehabilitation. This study explores the efficacy of TI stimulation as a non-invasive approach for improving motor and sensory function in patients with incomplete SCI. Three male patients with incomplete cervical SCI (AIS D) participated in a two-week intervention consisting of 14 sessions of TI stimulation targeting their injury sites. TI stimulation was delivered using frequencies of 1000 Hz and 1040 Hz, with assessments conducted pre- and post-intervention, including motor and sensory evaluations, functional scales, and imaging studies.All participants demonstrated significant improvements in neurological function, motor strength, sensory perception, and functional independence. Neurological levels of injury shifted upward in all cases, with one patient improving from C5 to C7. Graded Redefined Assessment of Strength, Sensibility and Prehension (GRASSP) results shows additional strength, prehension and sensory outcomes obtained for the arm and hand functions of participants. Motor scores (UEMS and LEMS) increased, sensory scores for light touch and pin prick improved, and functional assessments, such as the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and Barthel Index (BI), showed marked gains. Pain scores also decreased in two participants, highlighting additional therapeutic benefits.