At SpinalCure, we’ve always said the path to a cure for spinal cord injury (SCI) isn’t a straight line – it’s a journey of determination, discovery, and above all, hope. And today, I’m proud to share a milestone on that journey: the results of our eWALK clinical trial, the most rigorous study of its kind in the world.
Funded by SpinalCure in partnership with the CatWalk Trust NZ, and led by the brilliant team at Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA), the eWALK trial set out to test whether transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (tSCS), when combined with locomotor training, could improve walking in people living with chronic spinal cord injuries. Gold standard clinical trials like this are a crucial missing piece in the global evidence supporting neurostimulation.
Participants were recruited in Sydney, Melbourne and at three international centres – in Toledo (Spain), Chicago (USA), and Glasgow (UK) – with a total of 48 participants completing the 12 weeks of therapy.
Now, the initial results are in, and they are not what we had expected. Dr Liz Bye PhD, one of the lead researchers, presented these at the ISCoS conference in Sweden this week:
The conclusion is that, with the parameters and protocols used, transcutaneous spinal stimulation plus locomotor training did not improve walking ability more than locomotive training alone, but the full story is much more interesting.
Rehab is powerful and it works
The trial confirmed what we’ve long suspected: locomotor training alone can significantly improve walking ability, even in those with long-term SCI who would struggle to get funding for this level of exercise therapy. These gains were clinically meaningful, sustained and a powerful reminder of just how transformative access to targeted rehabilitation can be.
“Given that the majority of eWALK participants experienced improvements in their walking ability, it is possible that with sustained exercise some may no longer require physical assistance to move around their homes and some may even regain the ability to walk within their community.” said Dr Boswell-Ruys, Senior Research Fellow and Physiotherapist at the Spinal Cord Injury Research Centre.
tSCS: still full of promise
It’s important to remember tSCS remains a highly promising technology. Scientific progress is a process of both discovery and refinement – each study helps sharpen our understanding of who benefits most and how we can optimise stimulation techniques. This particular trial showed that, under the specific tested conditions and in this specific group, tSCS did not outperform rehabilitation alone. But science never stops at a single result. The researchers collected an enormous amount of data over the course of the trial and this is still being analysed for clues about who benefits most and how to optimise stimulation methods.
That’s why we’re already moving forward with two new trials: eWALK-2 and Get a Grip. These exciting studies are expanding the scope of tSCS to include different types of spinal cord injuries and upper limb function. Notably, eWALK 2 will use a more conventional form of stimulation, which may activate sensory nerve pathways better than the high-frequency stimulation used in the original eWALK study. It is also recruiting people with a much wider range of ability including injury levels all the way from C2 to T12.
Many of the eWALK participants got so much out of taking part in the study, both physically and mentally, that they have also volunteered for the eWALK 2 trial.
“Prior to going on the trial, I was completely unable to walk. Fast forward 12 weeks and I progressed so much. A highlight moment for me was on the last day of the trial, where I walked the full length of the room at the gym assisted by a single crutch and callipers… The results and the promise of walking again, any step in that direction is positive and absolutely the biggest motivator of all. ” Sheree Palmer, eWALK participant.
We are still recruiting volunteers for these new trials at multiple sites around the country so please get in touch if you want to be part of this “stimulating” research program.
Staying the course toward a cure
What the eWALK trial reinforces more than anything is the importance of evidence-based, world-class research.
At SpinalCure, our mission is clear: to fund and accelerate the most promising cure-focused research that brings us closer to a cure for spinal cord injury. We know there’s no magic bullet and it’s likely a combination of approaches that will ultimately deliver full recovery. SpinalCure is continuing to investigate a wide range of promising treatment avenues, including:
- pharmacological approaches to nerve repair
- big data applications in SCI recovery
- neuroplasticity-based therapies
- combination treatment strategies
- And yes, neurostimulation – including tSCS.
Thanks to the generosity of our donors and the support of our community we’re actively building a coordinated research pipeline as part of our evolving collaborative Roadmap Toward a Cure. We’re working in collaboration with researchers, clinicians, policymakers, and the community to take real, tangible steps toward a cure.
Duncan Wallace, Executive Director, SpinalCure
If you have any questions we’d love to hear from you: [email protected]