Abdominal Functional Electrical Stimulation to Improve Bowel Function in Spinal Cord Injury

March 26, 2026 updated by: Candace Tefertiller, Craig Hospital
The primary objective of this study is to gather information about the effectiveness of abdominal FES to improve bowel management time (BMT) for people with chronic SCI. This study will also evaluate whether abdominal FES can improve: 1) bowel-related quality of life, 2) participant-reported bowel function, 3) bowel management strategy, 4) bladder symptoms, and 5) unplanned hospital admissions. In addition, we will also explore participant perspectives and experiences about the stimulation sessions and use of the device.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
15

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Chronic SCI (> 12 months since injury) above the level of T11
  2. > 18 years of age

  3. a measurable and consistent start and end event is determinable for the bowel routine

    • Start events include: 1) enema insertion, 2) digital stimulation, 3) hot drink or initiation of the gastrocolic reflex, 3) abdominal massage, or 4) other, as determined by the participant and research team.
    • Ending events include: 1) final digital stimulation, 2) when evacuation has ceased, or 3) other, as determined by the participant and research team.
  4. Portable smart device with video capabilities and internet access
  5. Willingness to access and/or download Zoom (videoconferencing software)

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. American Spinal Injuries Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale (AIS) E
  2. Self-reported bowel management time (BMT) of <30 minutes
  3. Current bowel conditions such as gastro-esophageal reflux, bowel obstruction, Crohn's disease, or diverticulitis
  4. Physical obstacles that prevent AFES (e.g., pregnancy, abdominal trauma, cardiac pacemaker, or other implanted electromedical devices)
  5. Stoma or colostomy
  6. No response to AFES (e.g., lower motor neuron impairment)
  7. History of gastrointestinal surgery within the past 3 months
  8. Severely obese participants (>40 BMI)
  9. Primary language other than English
  10. Previous history of uncontrolled, recurrent episodes of AD
  11. Resting systolic blood pressure (BP) reported as >140 mmHg

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Abdominal Functional Electrical Stimulation
All participants enrolled will receive the intervention.
Behavioral: Abdominal Functional Electrical Stimulation
Functional electrical stimulation electrodes will be applied to the abdomen during a bowel program to assess effects of stimulation on bowel management time.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Bowel Management Time (BMT)
Time Frame: Daily (Weeks 1-10)
This is measured by recording start and end time of bowel management session in study diary.
Daily (Weeks 1-10)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Bowel Management Strategy
Time Frame: Daily (Weeks 1-10)
This will be measured via analysis of daily diary entries regarding bowel movements (time taken and frequency), dietary changes or inconsistencies, and use of laxatives and manual procedures. The bowel diary will be completed daily throughout the study by participants and/or their caregivers.
Daily (Weeks 1-10)
Stimulation Dose
Time Frame: During active stimulation period (Weeks 3-7)
This will be recorded by the participant. Participants will be asked to record the total time of active stimulation as displayed by the stimulation counter/timer and the intensity of the stimulation (milliamps) for each BM session in their bowel diary. The stimulation device will also record number of times the device button is depressed and duration in seconds, which can be downloaded at a later date by the research team providing further detail on stimulation dose.
During active stimulation period (Weeks 3-7)
EuroQoL 5 Dimension 5 Level (EQ-5D-5L) Questionnaire
Time Frame: Week 1, Week 3, Week 7, Week 10
Quality of Life measure
Week 1, Week 3, Week 7, Week 10
International Spinal Cord Society's (ISCoS) International SCI Bowel Function Basic Data Set Questionnaire
Time Frame: Week 1, Week 3, Week 7, Week 10
This instrument measures participant-reported bowel function bowel function.
Week 1, Week 3, Week 7, Week 10
Visual Analog Scale (VAS)
Time Frame: Week 1, Week 3, Week 7, Week 10
This instrument measures participant perceptions of bowel function satisfaction on a rating scale from 0-100.
Week 1, Week 3, Week 7, Week 10
Neurogenic Bladder Symptom Score (NBSS)
Time Frame: Week 1, Week 3, Week 7, Week 10
This instrument measures neurogenic bladder symptoms
Week 1, Week 3, Week 7, Week 10
Intervention Acceptability
Time Frame: Week 7
Qualitative and quantitative analysis of abdominal functional stimulation (AFES) use will be measured at the end of the active trial period, using both open-ended and 10-scored theoretical framework of acceptability questions to gain the perspective of people with lived experience of SCI on the use of AFES during a bowel routine
Week 7
Intervention Safety
Time Frame: Daily (Weeks 0-10)
This will be determined by the reporting and summarization of any adverse events associated with the interventions. Participants will be instructed to record any adverse events in their bowel diaries and to call study staff immediately to review. Unplanned hospital visits will also be recorded in the study diary.
Daily (Weeks 0-10)

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Craig Hospital

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
Neuroscience Research Australia

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
April 30, 2025

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
May 1, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
May 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
March 28, 2024

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
March 28, 2024

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
April 3, 2024

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
March 31, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
March 26, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 2174433-1

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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