Spinal Stimulation + FES-Assisted Cough Training in SCI

July 1, 2026 updated by: Milap Sandhu

Combined Transcutaneous Spinal Stimulation + FES-Assisted Cough Training in Acute SCI

The overall objective of this proposal is to determine if transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (tSCS) delivered concurrently with functional electrical stimulation (FES)-assisted cough training (FES-Cough) is an effective intervention to improve cough strength and coordination in individuals with acute/subacute SCI.

Study Overview

Status

Enrolling by invitation

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

The overall objective of this proposal is to determine if transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (tSCS) delivered concurrently with functional electrical stimulation (FES)-assisted cough training (FES-Cough) can synergistically improve cough strength and coordination in individuals with acute/subacute SCI. Aim 1: Determine the efficacy of tSCS combined with FES-Cough in individuals with acute/subacute SCI to improve cough strength and respiratory function. Spirometric values and respiratory pressures will be assessed as well as breathlessness and hypophonia after 20 sessions of active tSCS combined with FES-Cough vs. sham tSCS combined with FES-Cough administered over 4-6 weeks Aim 2: Analyze the effect of tSCS combined with FES-cough on cough coordination and sequencing through a detailed analysis of cough partial expiratory flow-volume (CPEFV) curves and respiratory muscle EMG before and after each of the interventions, including comparative analysis of EMG cough activity between individuals with neurologic injury and healthy control participants.

Th hypothesis is that participants receiving tSCS + FES-Cough will demonstrate significantly greater improvements in unstimulated peak cough flow, normalized cough phase timing, and improved flow-volume characteristics compared to the sham + FES-Cough group.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

60

Phase

  • 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 Locations

  • United States
    • Illinois
      • Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60611
        • Shirley Ryan AbilityLab

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

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Currently admitted for inpatient rehabilitation at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab
  • History of traumatic spinal cord injury with Neurologic Level of Injury (NLI) C1-T1, and AIS A-C on admission exam
  • Between 14-60 days from date of injury at time of enrollment
  • Baseline PCF below 270 L/min
  • Anatomical airway or tolerating occlusion of tracheostomy with either a one-way speaking valve or a cap for at least 60 minutes
  • Medically cleared by the participants primary inpatient physiatry attending physician

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Individuals with pre-morbid chronic pulmonary conditions, day-time ventilator dependence, uncontrolled autonomic dysreflexia, moderate to severe traumatic brain injury, developmental delay, diagnosis of active cancer, or secondary progressive neurologic disorder

  • Individuals with contraindications to the interventions of interest:

    1. TSCS and Abdominal FES: pacemaker, compromised skin integrity under site of stimulation, implanted defibrillators, deep brain stimulator(s), uncontrolled epilepsy or seizures, pregnancy, recent myocardial infarct, diaphragmatic pacer
    2. TSCS: Severe osteoporosis
    3. Abdominal FES: unhealed rib fracture, sternal precautions, recent pneumothorax, spine bracing impacting ability to place stimulation pads.
  • Individuals with medical instability impacting the safety and feasibility of participation including the inability to tolerate sitting upright >45 degrees for 15 minutes, acute unresolved medical complications as determined by study physician to be exclusionary, transferred to higher level of medical care for ≥5 consecutive days or >14 days total during trial period, and those with halo spine bracing
  • Individuals who are currently enrolled in another interventional research study are excluded from participating to eliminate potential influence of additional experimental interventions on study outcomes and to maintain standardization of study protocol

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: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Sham Comparator: Sham tSCS + FES-Assisted Cough
In this group, the tSCS spinal stimulation will be sham, providing no additional electrical input, while the FES assisted cough intervention will remain
Other: Sham tSCS + FES assisted cough
A clinician will don the electrodes on the participant for 20, 30 minute sessions 2 to 4 times per week for 4 to 6 weeks. tSCS will utilize multi-site stimulation at C3-C4 and T9-10, with simulation intensity being set for each electrode which produces a visible muscle twitch. The sham group will have intensity will be ramped up to sensation for 1 minute then ramped down and turned off FES will be set up by placing electode pads in the posterolateral positon on the trunk. Baseline stimulation parameters are 50Hz Frequency, 250-400μs pulse duration, altering monophasic waveform, amplitude dependent on participant response.
Active Comparator: tSCS + FES-Assisted Cough
This group will receive the combination of tSCS spinal stimulation and FES assisted cough simultaneously
Other: tSCS combined with FES-Cough

A clinician will don the electrodes on the participant for 20, 30 minute sessions 2 to 4 times per week for 4 to 6 weeks.

tSCS will utilize multi-site stimulation at C3-C4 and T9-10, with simulation intensity being set for each electrode which produces a visible muscle twitch.

FES will be set up by placing electode pads in the posterolateral positon on the trunk. Baseline stimulation parameters are 50Hz Frequency, 250-400μs pulse duration, altering monophasic waveform, amplitude dependent on participant response.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Peak Cough Flow
Time Frame: From time of enrollment, through intervention, up to follow up assessment approximately 10 weeks
Assesses functional cough strength via a digital peak flow by asking the participant to cough three times into the device. The maximum number will be recorded.
From time of enrollment, through intervention, up to follow up assessment approximately 10 weeks
Cough Partial Expiratory Flow Volume
Time Frame: From time of enrollment, through intervention, up to follow up assessment approximately 10 weeks
Assesses the effectiveness of a cough by plotting airflow during the cough against lung volume, and allowing all phases of cough to be visualized and calculate spirometric measurements. The participant will be fit with a facemask that will go over their nose and mouth, and then be asked to perform a series of single coughs and sequential coughs.
From time of enrollment, through intervention, up to follow up assessment approximately 10 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Maximum inspiratory pressure
Time Frame: From time of enrollment, through intervention, up to follow up assessment approximately 10 weeks
Assesses respiratory muscle strength by asking the participants to inhale or exhale quickly with their lips sealed around the mouthpiece of the training device to find maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP)
From time of enrollment, through intervention, up to follow up assessment approximately 10 weeks
Changes in electromyography (EMG) of respiratory muscles
Time Frame: From time of enrollment, through intervention, up to follow up assessment approximately 10 weeks
Assesses respiratory muscle activation during the cough. We will use surface EMG electrodes placed on various respiratory muscles on the abdomen and upper trunk to plot muscle activation during single and sequential cough epochs.
From time of enrollment, through intervention, up to follow up assessment approximately 10 weeks
Maximum expiratory pressure
Time Frame: From time of enrollment, through intervention, up to follow up assessment approximately 10 weeks
Assesses respiratory muscle strength by asking the participants to inhale or exhale quickly with their lips sealed around the mouthpiece of the training device to find maximum expiratory pressure (MEP)
From time of enrollment, through intervention, up to follow up assessment approximately 10 weeks
Forced expiratory volume
Time Frame: From time of enrollment, through intervention, up to follow up assessment approximately 10 weeks
Assesses respiratory muscle strength by asking the participants to inhale or exhale quickly with their lips sealed around the mouthpiece of the training device to find forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1)
From time of enrollment, through intervention, up to follow up assessment approximately 10 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Milap Sandhu

Collaborators

Shirley Ryan AbilityLab

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Milap Sandhu, PhD, PT, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab

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 (Estimated)

June 15, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

June 1, 2029

Study Completion (Estimated)

January 1, 2030

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

June 12, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 1, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

July 6, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

July 6, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 1, 2026

Last Verified

June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • STU00225588
  • 1529723 (Other Grant/Funding Number: Craig H. Neilsen Foundation)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

Upon request, de-identified data may be shared by the principal investigator

IPD Sharing Time Frame

Until 3 years following conclusion of study procedures

IPD Sharing Access Criteria

Principal investigator will retain this access and distribute upon request

IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type

  • STUDY_PROTOCOL
  • ICF

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

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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