tESCS for Upper Limb Rehab in Spinal Cord Injury (NCT07208188) | Clinical Trial Compass
Not Yet RecruitingEarly Phase 1
tESCS for Upper Limb Rehab in Spinal Cord Injury
United Kingdom20 participantsStarted 2025-11
Plain-language summary
Regaining hand and arm function is an important step towards regaining independence following high-level spinal cord injury (tetraplegia). The delivery of small electrical pulses over the skin above the spinal cord, called transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (tESCS), appears to improve the arm and hand function of people who have had tetraplegia for several years when delivered at the same time as upper limb therapy. However, tESCS has not been tested in people who have a new spinal cord injury. It should be straightforward to deliver tESCS during standard upper limb therapy sessions to inpatients receiving primary rehabilitation. The investigators want to test the practical aspects of delivering this intervention and also to compare recovery between a group of people who only receive upper limb therapy and a group who receive upper limb therapy and tESCS. If successful, tESCS could in the future be used as part of regular therapy following an acute spinal cord injury. Benefits could include faster and better recovery, reduced stay in hospital, and reduced NHS costs.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Aged 18 years or over, both sexes.
* At least 6 weeks post-implant (in participants having a surgery for an implant to stabilise the spine).
* ISNCSCI upper extremity motor score between 5 and 30 (both arms/hands)
* GRASSP-strength score \>=15 \& \<70
* Medically stable, cognitively intact and able to breathe independently.
* Attending upper limb therapy sessions at the QENSIU
* Planned stay longer than the duration of the intervention
* Able to sit for more than 2 hours a day
Exclusion Criteria:
* Unstable cervical spine injury
* Needing ventilation assistance during daytime
* Any implanted active metallic device without unconfirmed MRI compatibility (in our previous studies, we safely applied tESCS to participants with MRI-compatible devices/implants)
* Pregnancy and/or lactation.
* Non-injury-related neurological impairment
* Severe spasticity which have been unstable prior to enrolment
* Botulinum toxin injections-
* Clinically significant severe depression
* Patients who have cardiovascular disease
* Patients with severe ongoing Autonomic Dysreflexia
* Skin conditions or allergies that may affect electrode placement.
* Current infections
* Patients who have been involved in any other interventional study
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Retention
Timeframe: From enrollment till the last assesment at 8 weeks
2
Interference
Timeframe: From enrolment till the end of intervention at 4 weeks
3
Stimulation
Timeframe: From the first till the last intervention session at 4 weeks
4
Adverse effects
Timeframe: from the first till the last intervention session at 4 weeks
5
Feedback
Timeframe: From enrolment till the last assesment at 8 weeks