Spinal Stimulation for Upper Extremity Recovery in the Home

The CUE-Q version 2.1 measures functional limitation and perceived difficulty of performing actions with upper extremities in individuals with tetraplegia. The CUE-Q has 32 items; each scored on a 1-to-7-point scale representing self-perceived difficulty with total scores ranging from 32 to 224 (higher scores demonstrating greater UE function) and right and left scores assessed separately

This multimodal test measures sensorimotor and prehension function in three domains important in describing arm and hand function

The ISNCSCI is a universal classification tool for SCI based on a standardized sensory and motor exam. The ISNCSCI involves a detailed examination to determine the sensory and motor levels for both the right and left sides, the overall neurological level of the injury, and the completeness of the injury as designated by the American Spinal Cord Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale (AIS). The motor exam also results in a total Upper Extremity Motor Score (UEMS) ranging from 0 to 50, with higher scores indicative of greater UE strength.

Pinch and grasp force will be measured by the Commander Echo Console with the JTech Pinch and Hand Dynamometer to quantify finger and grasp strength.

The GRC assesses perceived change from an intervention. The scale is designed to quantify an individual's perceived improvement or deterioration over time. The magnitude of the change is then scored on a visual analog scale. GRC scales have been recommended for use as a core outcome measure in rehabilitation studies to improve the applicability of information from clinical trials to clinical practice.

The Satisfaction with Treatment Scale is a 6-point scale (0=strongly disagree; 5= strongly agree) used to rate satisfaction with treatment in previous intervention studies conducted in the home environment85 and will be modified specifically to address the transcutaneous spinal stimulation (TSS) intervention.

Participants and caregivers will be asked questions regarding their experience during the intervention, such as their likes and dislikes, notable changes or observations, and overall satisfaction with using TSS in their homes

The COPM is an individualized, client-centered instrument designed to measure an individual's self-perception of physical functioning and satisfaction in the activities identified as important by the client. The COPM will directly assess the true importance of functional improvements with regard to the subject's ability to perform activities of daily living and/or to function occupationally.

This instrument measures self-reported quality of life across four domains: overall well-being, physical health, psychological health, and social life. For each domain, respondents are asked to rate their satisfaction on a 0-10 scale (0=completely dissatisfied; 10=completely satisfied).

This instrument identifies pain region, pain type (e.g., nociceptive, neuropathic), and treatments used to reduce pain in addition to pain intensity on a 0-10 scale (0=no pain; 10=pain as bad as you can imagine) and interference with various aspects of the respondent's life on a 0-10 scale (0=no interference; 10=extreme interference).

Demographic information will include: age, sex, race/ethnic background, pre-injury education, employment status, marital status, and living situation.

Injury information will include: date of injury, cause of injury, baseline AIS classification, and injury level.