Non-invasive brain stimulation to promote motor and functional recovery following spinal cord injury

Abstract

We conducted a systematic review of studies using non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS: repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)) as a research and clinical tool aimed at improving motor and functional recovery or spasticity in patients following spinal cord injury (SCI) under the assumption that if the residual corticospinal circuits could be stimulated appropriately, the changes might be accompanied by functional recovery or an improvement in spasticity. This review summarizes the literature on the changes induced by NIBS in the motor and functional recovery and spasticity control of the upper and lower extremities following SCI.

Keywords

• spinal cord injury; non-invasive brain stimulation; transcranial magnetic stimulation; transcranial direct current stimulation; functional improvement; spasticity; neuropathic pain