Active tDCS Versus Sham tDCS for Upper Limb Recovery in Incomplete Tetraplegic Patients

About this trial

This trial is enrolling individuals with subacute (3 - 6 months since injury) cervical incomplete spinal cord injuries to test the effect of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on upper limb function. tDCS is a non-invasive electrical stimulation of the brain delivered by surface electrodes attached to the scalp. The researchers suggest arm and hand recovery best occurs in the first months after SCI and that this type of neuromodulation may facilitate it. If included, participants will undergo 20 minutes of standard upper limb rehabilitation with either: 1) two daily active tDCS sessions; or 2) two daily sham tDCS sessions, 5 days a week, for two weeks. After the stimulation period, standard upper limb rehabilitation will be continued for another 20 minutes. This standard rehabilitation physiotherapy of the upper limbs will occur at least in the 4 weeks before and in the 4 weeks after the tDCS treatment period. Final testing will be performed after 10 weeks.