What this means
Researchers plan to compare two groups: one gets active spinal stimulation and one gets fake stimulation, both while walking in an exoskeleton. The study has not started, so it cannot yet show whether this helps bones or muscles.
Plain-English summary written by an AI model from the registry listing.
- Status
- Opening soon
- Who can join
- Ages 21–60
- Where
- 1 site, including New Jersey
The science
- Registered title
- The Effect of Exoskeletal-assisted Walking Combined With Transcutaneous Spinal Cord Stimulation on Bone Strength.
- Trial ID
- NCT07325149 ↗
- Phase
- Not applicable
- Study type
- interventional
- Conditions
- Secondary Osteoporosis, Sarcopenia
- What is tested
- Exoskeleton-Assisted Walking (EAW) + active Transcutaneous Spinal Cord Stimulation (tSCS), Exoskeleton-assisted walking (EAW) + sham Transcutaneous Spinal Cord Stimulation (tSCS)
- Sponsor
- Bronx VA Medical Center
- Ages
- 21 Years to 60 Years
- Dates
- First posted Jan 8, 2026 · updated Jan 8, 2026
Registry summary
Immobilization following spinal cord injury (SCI) results in muscle and bone loss below the level of injury, which ultimately predisposes to fracture at several sites throughout the legs and can lead to several medical complications that can devastate quality of life. There is a scarcity of research that has successfully implemented rehabilitation and/or exercise training interventions to preserve the musculoskeletal system during the acute phase SCI, or possibly reverse the muscle and bone loss that has already occurred in chronic SCI. This study will compare the effect of exoskeleton-assisted walking (EAW) training combined with transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (tSCS) (EAW + active tSCS), to that of EAW + sham tSCS, on measures of muscle and bone health in a cohort of chronically injured motor incomplete SCI. A successful outcome would expand treatment options to improve musculoskeletal health over the lifetime.
Sites (1)
- Kessler Foundation, West Orange, New Jersey, United States