THE BIG IDEA: Epidural Stimulation trials showing improvement in cardiovascular function

In a study that was published today in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), four research participants at the University of Louisville have experienced improved cardiovascular function as a result of epidural stimulation, including blood pressure and heart rate regulation. All four are living with chronic cervical spinal cord injuries and had persistent low resting blood pressure and blood pressure decrease when sitting up. The study is an extension of the Reeve Foundation-sponsored THE BIG IDEA clinical trials that have yielded some promising results

Stefanie Putnam with a C4 SCI and Glenn A. Hirsch, M.D., co-author of the study

Spinal cord Epidural Stimulation (scES) uses an implanted electrode array to deliver electrical signals to the lumbar spine. For this study, research participants received stimulation using specific configurations selected to target cardiovascular function, monitoring blood pressure and cardiovascular function throughout, for an average of 89 daily, two-hour sessions. Earlier research showed the benefits of scES in controlling cardiovascular function during stimulation, but this data reveals participants’ blood pressure and heart rate remained stabilized between sessions, showing an enduring effect.

Read the rest of the findings HERE.