The effect of transcutaneous electrical stimulation of the cervical spine on the postural stability of a healthy person

Transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (tSCS) is a non-invasive method of painless electrical exposure. In experimental models of intact and damaged CNS, it has been shown that tSCS can facilitate intra-spinal neural plasticity and can be used to restore motor function. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect tSCS at the C5-C6 level different frequency on postural stability of healthy individuals. The study was conducted on 11 healthy participants. A stabilographic sample was recorded before, during tSCS of the cervical vertebrae and after stimulation. In total, 3 stages were held: when participants stood on a solid surface with their eyes open and closed, when standing position on an unstable surface with their eyes open. The intensity of stimulation was 90% of the response threshold in the muscles of the upper extremities, the frequency was 20 Hz and 30 Hz, the stimulation area was between the C5-C6 vertebrae. It was shown that the statokinesiogram area, velocity of body sway, length, the trajectories of the pressure center and the deviation in the frontal and sagittal planes decreased with SCS, the quality of the equilibrium function increased in all three stages. When stimulated with both a frequency of 20 Hz and 30 Hz, a significant decrease in the power of the high-frequency region of the spectrum was obtained at all three stages. A decrease in the power of the high-frequency region of the stabilogram spectrum against the background of an improvement in classical and vector parameters is a positive effect of stimulation on postural stability. Probably, the positive effect of tSCS is based on a downward facilitating effect on the postural muscles of the lower extremities.