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Spinal Cord Stimulation for Children With Cerebral Palsy
Sponsor: Martin Piazza
Summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to help understand spinal cord excitability in children with cerebral palsy compared to neurologically typical children. The main questions it aims to answer are: * What are the mechanisms of spinal circuit hyperexcitability in CP? * Can transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation reduce spinal circuit hyperexcitability? Participants with cerebral palsy will be asked to complete: * Movement and strength exercises * Mild, non-invasive stimulation on the back and legs that feels like a light tap. * Gentle, non-invasive tests that help us see how the brain and the spinal cord communicate with the muscles
Official title: Transcutaneous Spinal Cord Stimulation to Treat Spasticity in Children With Cerebral Palsy
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
5 Years - 17 Years
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
30
Start Date
2026-03-30
Completion Date
2026-12
Last Updated
2026-04-07
Healthy Volunteers
Yes
Conditions
Interventions
Transcutaneous Spinal Cord Stimulation (tSCS)
Transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (tSCS) will be administered using the Digitimer DS8R Biphasic Constant Current Stimulator, an external isolated stimulator system used in human research. The DS8R delivers controlled electrical pulses with adjustable stimulation parameters. tSCS will be delivered at frequencies between 30-50 Hz with 1 ms pulse width and a biphasic waveform. Self-adhesive surface electrodes will be positioned longitudinally over the thoracolumbar region at T11-L1 (cathodes) and over the iliac crests (anodes). In children with cerebral palsy, electrophysiological and clinical assessments will be conducted before, during, and after stimulation to evaluate changes in spinal excitability, spasticity, and motor function. Stimulation is administered during supervised study visits.
Locations (1)
UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States