Table 1 Clinical studies investigating ESCS
Included studies | Number of participant(s) | Level of injury and ASIA grading | Main functional outcomes | Study type | Level of evidence* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Harkema et al. [8] | 1 | C7 (AIS B) | Full weight-bearing standing with assistance during ESCS | Case report | 4 |
Angeli et al. [4] | 4 | T4 (AIS A); T4 (AIS A); C5 (AIS B); T1 (AIS B) | Walk overground with parallel bars (2/4); taking steps on treadmill with body-weight support (other 2/4); standing with trunk stability | Case series | 4 |
Gill et al. [7] | 1 | T6 (AIS A) | Independent standing; stepping on treadmill; stepping overground with walker and assistance | Case report | 4 |
Rejc et al. [10] | 4 | T4 (AIS A); T4 (AIS A); T2 (AIS B); C7 (AIS B); | Full weight-bearing standing with self-balance assistance | Case series | 4 |
Rowald et al. [14] | 3 | T4 (AIS A); T3 (AIS A); T7 (AIS B); | Overground walking with body-weight support after three days of ESCS; leg movements for cycling and swimming; improved trunk control | Case series | 4 |
Wagner et al. [15] | 3 | C7 (AIS C); C4 (AIS D); C7 (AIS C); | Overground walking with body-weight support; Increased Lower Extremity Motor Scores (ISNCSCI); | Case series | 4 |
Lu et al. [16] | 2 | C5 (AIS B); C6 (AIS B) | Increased Upper Extremity Motor Scores (ISNCSCI); Improvement in selfcare-subcategories in the SCIM III | Case series | 4 |
Darrow et al. [6] | 2 | T8 (AIS A); T4 (AIS A) | Improvement of symptomatic hypotension (1/2); volitional voiding (1/2) with residual volumes; recovery of female orgasm (1/2) | Case series | 4 |
Schieferdecker et al. [17] | 5 (4 SCI, 1 Multiple sclerosis) | Not specified. All participants were paraplegic | Decreased urine leakage and incontinence | Retrospective case series | 4 |
Herrity et al. [18] | 20 (10/10) in intervention group/usual care group) | Range from C2 to T4 (AIS A/B) | Improved bladder capacity in intervention group (whereas no change in usual care group) | Case control study;cohort study | 3b |