Spinal cord injuries often damage the nerves and communication pathways that connect the body and brain. This can lead to issues such as paralysis, weakness, and changes in sensation, blood pressure, and bodily regulation. Research shows that stimulating the spinal cord after injury can promote improvements in function by invigorating residual nerve pathways in the spinal cord. It can also encourage the body to “re-route” pathways (neuroplasticity). At Mount Sinai, we use transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation, which stimulates the spinal cord through the skin using electrical impulses. It can improve blood pressure management and sensation recovery as well as function in the arms, hands, and legs. It is also helpful with walking.

How It Works

To use this technology, we place electrodes on the skin at the back of your neck. Then we use a hand-held device to send electrical impulses to the electrodes. Your health care provider will program the settings to meet your individual needs. This electrical stimulation helps increase existing spinal nerve activity while encouraging the body to create new pathways, a process called neuroplasticity. Unlike other electrical stimulation treatments, this does not require a surgical procedure to implant the device and electrodes.