{
  "abstract": "Background: Hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) is a rare genetic neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive lower-extremity spasticity, weakness, and gait impairment resulting from corticospinal tract degeneration. With no disease-modifying therapies available, novel strategies to improve motor function are needed. Transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (tSCS) is a non-invasive neuromodulation approach that may improve motor function but has not been prospectively evaluated in HSP. This study will assess the safety, feasibility, and preliminary efficacy of repeated tSCS in adults with HSP. Methods and analysis: This prospective, open-label, single-arm pilot trial will enroll 15 adults with HSP. Participants will receive 16 tSCS sessions over 8 weeks targeting the lower thoracic and upper lumbar vertebral levels, followed by an 8-week follow-up. Outcomes will assess gait performance, spasticity, disease severity, mobility, walking endurance, muscle strength, 3D gait biomechanics, electromyography, and HSP-specific patient-reported measures. Exploratory blood-based neurodegenerative biomarkers and metabolomic and lipidomic profiles will investigate potential biological correlates of treatment response. Assessments will occur at baseline and weeks 4, 8, and 16. Feasibility and safety will be evaluated through recruitment, retention, adherence, and adverse events.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Kentucky, Lexington, United States of America",
    "Department of Kinesiology and Health Promotion, University of Kentucky, Lexington, United States of America",
    "Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center (SCoBIRC), University of Kentucky, Lexington, United States of America",
    "Department of Physiology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, United States of America",
    "SpineX Inc, Los Angeles, California, United States of America",
    "Independent Consultant, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America",
    "Person with Lived Experience, Lexington, United States of America",
    "Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, College of Medicine, Drexel University, Philadelphia, United States of America"
  ],
  "article_type": "Study Protocol",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 15,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Vivek K. Pandey"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Holly M. Elliott"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Amara G. Sharp"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Emma S. Ballenger"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Zamiar Karianne"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        5
      ],
      "name": "Parag Gad"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        6
      ],
      "name": "Rich Cohn"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        7
      ],
      "name": "Aaron G. Taylor"
    },
    {
      "name": "Emanuela Piermarini"
    },
    {
      "name": "Peter W. Baas"
    },
    {
      "name": "Samir P. Patel"
    },
    {
      "name": "Sara S. Salles"
    },
    {
      "name": "Zakari R. Dymock"
    },
    {
      "name": "Michael A. Samaan"
    },
    {
      "name": "Rahul Sachdeva"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/53whk4w5sj1q6.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1371/journal.pone.0359948",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "53whk4w5sj1q6",
  "issns": [
    "1932-6203"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0359948",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2804|Hereditary Neurological Disorders"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Biochemistry/Biomarkers"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Biochemistry/Lipids/Lipid metabolism"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Biochemistry/Metabolism/Lipid metabolism"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Biochemistry/Metabolism/Metabolomics"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Biomechanics"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Physiology/Biological locomotion/Gait analysis"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Physiology/Biological locomotion/Walking"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Surgical and invasive medical procedures/Functional electrical stimulation"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Research and analysis methods/Bioassays and physiological analysis/Electrophysiological techniques/Muscle electrophysiology/Electromyography"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7221917654",
  "pdf_url": "https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0359948&type=printable",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-15",
  "publisher": "Public Library of Science",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/53whk4w5sj1q6.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:23Z",
      "native_id": "10.1371/journal.pone.0359948",
      "source": "plos",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0359948"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biochemistry",
      "origin": "plos:metabolism",
      "subfield": "enzymology-metabolism"
    },
    {
      "field": "biochemistry",
      "origin": "plos:metabolomics",
      "subfield": "proteomics-metabolomics"
    },
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "plos:physiology",
      "subfield": "physiology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation for functional recovery in individuals with hereditary spastic paraplegia: Protocol for a pilot clinical trial",
  "title_text": "Transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation for functional recovery in individuals with hereditary spastic paraplegia: Protocol for a pilot clinical trial",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:23Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/53whk4w5sj1q6",
  "venue": "PLOS One",
  "versions": []
}