Brain training may strengthen movement after spinal cord injury

NCT ID NCT04286191

Completed Knowledge-focused Sponsor: Medical University of South Carolina Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study tested whether a brain-spinal cord-muscle training program can strengthen connections that control movement in people with spinal cord injury. Twenty-one participants completed four months of training using brain stimulation and muscle monitoring. The goal was to see if this training could improve walking and reduce muscle spasticity.

What this could mean

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

Active substance: Operant conditioning training with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
What this could lead to: If successful, this training approach could point toward a non-invasive way to improve walking and movement control after spinal cord injury.
What could go wrong: This is a small, early-stage study (21 participants) focused on measuring changes in the nervous system, not on proving a treatment works. Results may not apply to everyone with spinal cord injury.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Muscle Spasticity nervous system injury palsy spinal cord injury

As listed by the trial registrant

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

NEUROLOGICAL INJURY PARALYSIS SPASTICITY, MUSCLE SPINAL CORD INJURIES

Contacts and locations

Locations

Medical University of South Carolina

Charleston, South Carolina, 29425, United States

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