Can zaps and vitamins save bones after spinal injury?

NCT ID NCT05008484

Completed Disease control Sponsor: VA Office of Research and Development Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This pilot study tested whether combining neuromuscular electrical stimulation with daily vitamin D could improve bone health in veterans with chronic spinal cord injury. Six participants underwent 9 months of treatment, with bone changes measured by MRI and DXA scans. The goal was to see if this approach could reverse the bone loss that often leads to fractures in this population.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: neuromuscular electrical stimulation and vitamin D supplementation
What this could lead to: If it works, this could point toward a way to reduce bone loss and fracture risk in people with spinal cord injury.
What could go wrong: This was a very small pilot study with only 6 participants, so results may not apply widely. The combination therapy may not reverse bone loss significantly.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

spinal cord injury

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

SPINAL CORD INJURY

Contacts and locations

Locations

Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center, Richmond, VA

Richmond, Virginia, 23249-0001, United States

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