Epidural stimulation with locomotor training ameliorates unstable blood pressure after tetraplegia. A case report

A male with C7 complete tetraplegia participated in 14 weeks of body weight supported treadmill training (BWSTT) combined with spinal cord epidural stimulation (SCES), 4 weeks of no intervention, and two more weeks of BWSTT + SCES. The participant presented with unstable resting seated blood pressure (BP; 131/66 mmHg). After retrospective analysis, resting systolic BP decreased and diastolic BP increased, yielding a safe mean arterial BP. There was a fivefold increase in BWSTT bouts per session, and percentage of body weight support decreased to 69%. BWSTT + SCES safely and effectively regulated resting BP and mitigated symptoms of orthostatic intolerance. These effects were not maintained after 4 weeks without training.

Automated summary

A male with C7 complete tetraplegia underwent 14 weeks of body weight supported treadmill training combined with spinal cord epidural stimulation. Resting blood pressure was unstable before training, but was effectively regulated during training, relieving symptoms of orthostatic intolerance. However, these effects were not maintained after the training was stopped.