Recent therapies can slow the progression of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). While these treatments improve survival, motor impairments persist. To address this, researchers have explored whether epidural spinal cord stimulation (SCS) could enhance motoneuron function and firing rates in three adults with SMA. In the study, researchers implanted epidural electrodes over the lumbosacral spinal cord to stimulate sensory axons in the legs.
They delivered SCS two hours daily during motor tasks over four weeks. The SCS improved motoneuron function, resulting in significant gains in strength (+180%), gait quality (+40% step length), and endurance (+26 m in the 6-minute walk test). These improvements, linked to increased motoneuron firing rates, persisted even after SCS was turned off, with no reported adverse events. The findings highlight the potential of SCS and suggest its applicability in…
