Authors: Ryo Nakahara,Sarah Nasson,Ellie Bieler,Emilee Putsche-Young,Benjamin Aguila,Jiayi Shen,Emma Chung,Laura Winston,Stephen Burns,Deborah Crane,Margaret Eugenio,Klaus Krogh,Andrei Krassioukov,Chet Moritz,Soshi Samejima
Publication: PLoS One
Date: April 20, 2026
Abstract: Spinal cord injury (SCI) at or above the thoracic sixth spinal cord level disrupts descending sympathetic and parasympathetic control, leading to severe autonomic dysfunctions including cardiovascular and pelvic organ function. These complications adversely affect the quality of life and are associated with increased morbidity and mortality after SCI. Transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (tSCS) may offer therapeutic benefits for these functions. The safety of tSCS in subacute SCI, however, remains unknown. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the feasibility of tSCS for autonomic recovery in individuals with subacute SCI within six months since injury.