Understanding Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)
Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a life-altering condition that results in partial or complete loss of motor and sensory function below the level of injury. Each year, approximately 18,000 new SCI cases occur in the United States, with an estimated 300,000 individuals living with chronic SCI.1 In Europe, there are an estimated 11,000 new cases per year, with approximately 330,000 people living with SCIs.2 Globally, the World Health Organization estimates that between 250,000 and 500,000 new cases occur each year.3
Despite advances in care, there is currently no curative treatment for SCI. Management focuses on symptom control, prevention of secondary complications, and rehabilitation strategies aimed at optimizing residual function. However, traditional approaches—such as physical therapy, functional electrical stimulation (FES), and pharmacological interventions—have limited efficacy in restoring voluntary movement.
Emerging neuromodulatory techniques, such as transcutaneous spinal stimulation (TSS), offer a promising, non-invasive intervention to enhance neural circuit activation, motor function, and neuroplasticity in individuals with SCI.