Noninvasive spinal neuromodulation with activity-based rehab shows promise in cerebral palsy

Among children with cerebral palsy (CP), using noninvasive spinal neuromodulation during activity-based neurorehabilitation therapy (ABNT) appears to improve sensory-motor function, a recent study has found.

The present single-arm, unblinded pilot study enrolled 16 CP patients who received the same combination intervention twice weekly for 8 weeks. Sensory-motor function was measured using the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM-88).

All children showed positive responses during the first ABNT session with neuromodulation, leading to better posture and sensorimotor capabilities.

For patients with Gross Motor Functional Classification Scale levels I and II, symptomatic improvements included being able to take more independent steps, better balance, and upright posture. Those with disease levels IV and V saw more subtle improvements, such as being able to sit still for longer durations and having better voluntary head control.

Over the 8-week training programme, all patients saw significant improvements in GMFM-88 scores, breaching the minimal clinical important difference threshold of 5 points. In those with levels I and II CP, scores jumped from a mean of 70.4 to 85.28. In those with levels IV and V, scores increased from 11.09 to 21.92 (p<0.05 for all).

“Indirectly, the present results demonstrate noninvasive electrical spinal neuromodulation combined with an ABNT strategy may facilitate improved functional, bidirectional connectivity between spinal and supraspinal networks in individuals with CP,” the researchers said.