Below the Belt: Non-invasive Neuromodulation to Treat Bladder, Bowel, and Sexual Dysfunction Following Spinal Cord Injury

Recent findings have demonstrated that electrical stimulation to the spinal cord (i.e. implanted electrodes) can significantly recover bladder, bowel, and sexual function after injury. While promising, a major drawback is that individuals must undergo a highly invasive and expensive surgical procedure to implant the stimulator on top of the spinal cord. Moreover, the inability to re-position the implanted stimulator considerably limits the flexibility of this procedure. In this project, the investigators propose a comprehensive clinical study examining the effects of TCSCS in promoting recovery of these crucial functions in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). This non-invasive therapeutic modality uses electrodes applied over the skin to deliver electrical stimulation. It is based on the same principles of ground-breaking work from the investigator's group and others, showing that stimulation of the spinal cord can promote motor and autonomic (cardiovascular, bladder, bowel) recovery in individuals with chronic SCI.