Combined Effects of Acrobatic Exercise and Magnetic Stimulation on the Functional Recovery after Spinal Cord Lesions

Abstract

The objective of the study was to determine whether physical exercise combined with epidural spinal cord magnetic stimulation could improve recovery after injury of the spinal cord. Spinal cord lesioning in mice resulted in reduced locomotor function and negatively affected the muscle strength tested in vitro. Acrobatic exercise attenuated the behavioral effects of spinal cord injury. The exposure to magnetic fields facilitated further this improvement. The progress in behavioral recovery was correlated with reduced muscle degeneration and enhanced muscle contraction. The acrobatic exercise combined with stimulation with magnetic fields significantly facilitates behavioral recovery and muscle physiology in mice following spinal cord injury.

Iron oxide nanoparticles and magnetic field exposure promote functional recovery by attenuating free radical-induced damage in rats with spinal cord transection

“…[26][27][28][29][30][31] In rat models of spinal cord injury (SCI), exposure to a low intensity MF results in significant improvement in locomotor, sensorimotor, and autonomic function. [32][33][34][35][36] Stimulation of the motor cortex by repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation is beneficial, especially in lower thoracic SCI lesions, because it activates the central pattern generator via descending serotonin pathways. 28 In vitro, exposure to an MF increases the overall viability of mouse monoclonal hippocampal HT22 cells and has a neuroprotective effect against oxidative stressors.…”

“…8 Use of an MF in restoration of locomotion, improving muscle properties, and promoting osteoporosis is extremely beneficial in SCI. [31][32][33]45 Bladder control is also restored by functional magnetic stimulation in animal models of SCI and in patients. [46][47][48][49][50] In the present study, the locomotor behavior, feeding patterns, and body weight of SCI rats exposed to an MF showed significant improvement in comparison with SCI rats not exposed to an MF.…”

“…These results are comparable with previous reports of repeated low-intensity MF stimulation in SCI rats and may be mediated by the effects of the MF on free radical-induced secondary injury or by activation of the central pattern generator center for locomotion by serotonin pathways. [28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36] 5-Hydroxytryptamine has an important role in modulating the excitability of motor and sensory neurons in the spinal cord, thereby influencing locomotion and sensorimotor behavior. [51][52][53][54][55] Exposure to an MF has been shown to restore the metabolism, synthesis, and distribution of 5-hydroxytryptamine in the spinal cord and brain.…”

“…Previous in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrating facilitation of axonal and neuronal regeneration, sparing of white matter, reduction in lesion volume, increased overall cell viability, and a neuroprotective effect against oxidative stressors following MF exposure further support our observations in the MF group. 26,[29][30][31][32][33][34] IONPs are small-scale structures (,100 nm) that can be used for biomedical and electronic application and for energy production. Due to their characteristic superparamagnetic and other physical properties, they have attracted much interest for application in vivo.…”

Nogo Receptor Deletion and Multimodal Exercise Improve Distinct Aspects of Recovery in Cervical Spinal Cord Injury

“…However, to establish conscious control of these brainstem and spinal circuits, connections are needed with corticalorigin pathways. Activity-based therapy, whether through exercise or more invasive means, has clearly demonstrated the ability to improve connectivity and function after a variety of CNS injuries (Ahmed and Wieraszko, 2008;Brus-Ramer et al, 2007;Carmel et al, 2010;Courtine et al, 2009;Minassian et al, 2007;Sadowsky and McDonald, 2009). In an effort to induce these types of connections non-invasively, we designed a training regimen to simultaneously invoke skilled forelimb use (CST) and postural reflexes (vestibulospinal, reticulospinal, and other brainstem tracts).…”