Stable improvement in hand muscle strength in incomplete spinal cord injury patients by long-term paired associative stimulation-a case series study.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Paired associative stimulation (PAS) consists of high-intensity transcranial magnetic stimulation and high-frequency electric stimulation of the peripheral nerve (high-PAS) and can induce plastic changes in spared corticospinal connections in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI), leading to the restoration of motor function. The objective of this study was to investigate the long-term effect of high-PAS on hand function and muscle strength.

Materials and methods

High-PAS was applied to four patients with chronic, incomplete, cervical-level SCI multiple times a week for as long as hand muscle strength improved. The median, ulnar, and radial nerves of one hand chosen by the patient were stimulated. Patients underwent Medical Research Council (MRC) manual musc

SUBMITTER: Holopainen K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11832407 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature