Non-invasive Spinal Cord Stimulation and Blood Pressure Regulation After Spinal Cord Injury

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This study introduces a novel mechanistic framework for treating and understanding autonomic regulation of blood pressure in SCI. The central hypothesis is that targeted specific scTS will restore cardiovascular homeostasis by strengthening complex neurohormonal pathways of blood pressure control. We expect that changes in these physiological and biochemical parameters will translate into greater cardiovascular stability, reduced frequency and severity of hypotensive and hypertensive episodes, and enhanced quality of life for individuals with SCI in individuals with Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) at the neurological level T1 and above, and more than one year after injury. The study team will recruit up to forty participants with the goal of fifteen participants to complete study interventions and assessments through the second follow-up visit. After recruitment and screening, primary and secondary outcome measures will be obtained at the following time points: 1) Pre-intervention (inclusive of randomization and mapping), 2) Session 20, 3) Mid-Intervention, 4) Session 60, 5) post-intervention, 6) 1st Follow-Up (8 weeks after post-intervention), and 7) 2nd Follow-Up (16 weeks after post-intervention). Participants will be asked to complete eighty sessions over a 16 to 20-week period, delivered 4 to 5 days per week for one hour each day. The stimulation will be delivered with frequency of up to 100 Hz, with incrementally increased intensity up to 200 mA to the participant for 80 sessions 1 hour long spanning 16 to 20 weeks.