Spinal stimulation may restore cough power after paralysis

NCT ID NCT07683780

ENROLLING_BY_INVITATION Disease control Sponsor: Milap Sandhu Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jul 06, 2026 · Last updated Jul 07, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study tests whether combining spinal cord stimulation with electrical muscle stimulation can improve cough strength in people who recently had a spinal cord injury. Participants will receive either real or sham stimulation during cough training sessions over several weeks. The goal is to see if this approach helps them cough more forcefully and coordinate their breathing muscles better.

What this could mean

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

Active substance: transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation and functional electrical stimulation
What this could lead to: If effective, this approach could help people with spinal cord injury cough more forcefully, reducing the risk of lung infections and improving breathing muscle coordination.
What could go wrong: This is an early-stage trial with a small number of participants, so results may not apply widely. The stimulation may cause discomfort or muscle twitching, and the cough improvement may be modest.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Cough spinal cord injury

As listed by the trial registrant

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

SPINAL CORD INJURIES

Contacts and locations

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Locations

Shirley Ryan AbilityLab

Chicago, Illinois, 60611, United States

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