Symposium

Optimizing Vagus Nerve Stimulation Paired with Rehabilitation to Promote Recovery After Stroke or Spinal Cord Injury 9613

Corresponding Presenter(s)

• 

  Dannae Arnold, PT, DPT, ATP

  Research Physical Therapist
  Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation
  Dallas, United States, International, Texas, United States

  Slides

Presenter(s)

• 

  Jaime L. Gillespie, DPT (she/her/hers)

  Research Physical Therapist
  Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation
  Dallas, TX, United States
• 

  Joseph D. Epperson, PhD

  Biomedical Engineer
  Texas Biomedical Device Center
  Richardson, Texas, United States
• 

  Emmanuel A. Adehunoluwa, MS

  Doctoral researcher
  University of Texas, Dallas
  Richardson, Texas, United States

Non-Presenting Contributor(s)

• 

  Chad Swank, PT, PhD

  Research Investigator
  Baylor Scott & White Research Institute
  Dallas, Texas, United States
• 

  Michael P. Kilgard, PhD

  Executive Director, Texas Biomedical Device Center
  University of Texas at Dallas
  Richardson, TX, United States
• 

  Seth A. Hays, PhD

  Associate Professor
  University of Texas at Dallas
  Richardson, Texas, United States
• RH

  Rita G. Hamiton, D.O.

  CMO Baylor Scott and White Institute for Rehabilitation
  Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation
  dallas, Texas, United States
• JW

  Jane Wigginton, MD, MSCS

  Chief Medical Officer, Tx Biomedical Device Center
  University of Texas at Dallas
  Richardson, TX, United States

Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) paired with rehabilitation is a promising intervention for improving upper limb function after chronic stroke and SCI. However, opportunities exist to improve the mode of stimulation and the rehabilitation delivery. Therefore, this presentation will describe an implanted VNS device paired with novel rehabilitation delivery. Participants with chronic stroke and SCI were enrolled to complete these double-blinded, sham-controlled clinical trials comprised of 36 rehabilitation sessions. Outcomes [safety (adverse events), feasibility of the ReStore VNS device (successful stimulations percentage), upper limb function (stroke=UE-FM; SCI=GRASSP)] were assessed at baseline, end of the blinded phase, and completion of the open-label extension phase. Initial findings indicate VNS paired with rehabilitation is safe, feasible, and may be associated with significant functional gains for participants with chronic stroke and SCI. Final study results will be detailed, and collaborative relationships among neuroscientists, biomedical engineers, physicians, and physical therapists will be highlighted.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the physiology and pre-clinical results of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) to enhance neural recovery.
• Describe the delivery of a VNS intervention for SCI and stroke through a unique collaboration between therapists and engineers.
• Discuss opportunities to further explore the use of VNS paired with rehabilitation to enhance recovery after SCI and stroke.