Shockwave therapy to help reduce spasticity after spinal cord injury
Official title: Randomized, sham-controlled trial to investigate extracorporeal shockwave therapy as an adjunctive treatment for spasticity secondary to spinal cord injury
Funded at Kessler Foundation, INC. · NIH-11438642 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A randomized, sham-controlled trial will test whether extracorporeal shockwave therapy can lessen muscle tightness in people with spinal cord injuries.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Kessler Foundation, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (East Hanover, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $385,776 |
| NIH project number | 1R21HD123083-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11438642 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with spinal cord injury experiencing spasticity who have not contraindicated conditions and can participate in a randomized trial.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without spasticity or with contraindications to shockwave therapy may not benefit.
What this research studies
This trial will compare real shockwave therapy to a sham treatment to see if spasticity improves in people with SCI. It will recruit participants and deliver treatments in a controlled, blinded setup to measure changes in muscle stiffness and function. If effective, this adjunctive therapy could offer a new option alongside existing treatments like botulinum toxin. The study focuses on SCI-related spasticity and will monitor safety and tolerability closely.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, participants may experience reduced spasticity and improved ability to move and perform daily activities.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies in stroke patients showed benefit, but similar work in SCI is needed and this trial aims to establish that.
Where this research is happening
-
Kessler Foundation, INC.
East Hanover, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hogaboom, Nathan — Kessler Foundation, INC.
- Study coordinator: Hogaboom, Nathan
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Using non-invasive stimulation to reduce spasticity and improve movement after spinal cord injury
This study is looking at how gentle spinal cord stimulation can help people with spinal cord injuries feel less stiffness and regain better movement, making it a friendly option for improving recovery.
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Corticospinal neurons and recovery of precise forelimb movement after spinal cord injury
This project studies how spine injuries change brain circuits and whether targeted rehabilitation helps restore precise forelimb movement.
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How baclofen and spinal cord stimulation interact in people with spinal cord injury
This study looks at how a common antispasmodic medicine (baclofen) works together with spinal cord stimulation in people who have spinal cord injuries and live with spasticity.
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Targeting spinal cord inflammation with a new HuR inhibitor to help SCI patients
A new treatment approach uses a small molecule to block a brain-spinal inflammation regulator (HuR) that drives harmful inflammation after spinal cord injury, aiming to lessen damage and pain for people with SCI.
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From Neural Control of Movement to Treatments for Spinal Cord Injury
A patient-focused project aims to translate how brain signals control movement after spinal cord injury into new treatments that improve muscle function and reduce spasticity.
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Polaris: a compact system to help motor recovery after spinal cord injury and stroke
A new, easy-to-use device called Polaris may help people with spinal cord injury, stroke, or other chronic conditions regain movement by guiding a specialized reflex-based therapy.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.