Generation of direct current electrical fields as regenerative therapy for spinal cord injury: A review

Electrical stimulation (ES) shows promise as a therapy to promote recovery and regeneration after spinal cord injury. ES therapy establishes beneficial electric fields (EFs) and has been investigated in numerous studies, which date back nearly a century. In this review, we discuss the various engineering approaches available to generate regenerative EFs through direct current electrical stimulation and very low frequency electrical stimulation. We highlight the electrode-tissue interface, which is important for the appropriate choice of electrode material and stimulator circuitry. We discuss how to best estimate and control the generated field, which is an important measure for comparability of studies. Finally, we assess the methods used in these studies to measure functional recovery after the injury and treatment. This work reviews studies in the field of ES therapy with the goal of supporting decisions regarding best stimulation strategy and recovery assessment for future work.
Validerad;2023;Nivå 2;2023-12-12 (hanlid);Funder: Health Research Council of New Zealand (HRC/Catwalk Partnership 19/895); Neurological Foundation (1952 FF); German Research Foundation (EXC 1086); European Union's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation program (759655);Full text license: CC BY