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Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) Clinical Trials for Spinal Cord Injury

SCI.help tracks 89 spinal cord injury clinical trials studying functional electrical stimulation (fes), and 13 are open to new participants. Each links to its full ClinicalTrials.gov record. Last refreshed 2026-09-12.

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This is research, not treatment. A clinical trial is a study. It may involve a placebo, carries unknown risks, and is not a substitute for proven care. Be wary of any "trial" that charges you to take part. Talk with your SCI doctor before enrolling, and read the full eligibility and risks on ClinicalTrials.gov. Not medical advice.

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Open and recruiting (13)

These trials are recruiting, about to recruit, or enrolling by invitation. Status comes straight from ClinicalTrials.gov and can change without notice.

  • Not yet recruitingNCT07626931

    Abdominal Stimulation to Improve Cough After Spinal Cord Injury

    The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if abdominal functional electrical stimulation (FES) using the VentFree Respiratory Muscle Stimulator improves cough strength in adults with a new spinal cord injury (SCI). It will also learn about the safety of abdominal FES in this population.

    Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES)RehabilitationTrunk Control
  • Not yet recruitingNCT07396922

    Assessment of Safety and Effectiveness of Spatial StimelMD (SSMD) in Subjects With Upper Limb Neuromotor Impairments

    This study will evaluate the safety and performance of the Spatial StimeMD (SSMD) medical device in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). The SSMD device is intended to support patients through a non-invasive stimulation program.

    DevicesElectrical StimulationFunctional Electrical Stimulation (FES)Arm MovementMotor FunctionQuality of Life
    Poland
  • RecruitingNCT07705256

    EMG-Directed Virtual-Reality Training for Motor Stroke Rehabilitation

    This study is testing whether rehabilitation using muscle activity signals can help improve arm and hand movement in people after stroke or spinal cord injury. In the main study, participants will use a virtual-reality feedback system that is controlled by surface electromyography (EMG).

    Electrical StimulationFunctional Electrical Stimulation (FES)RehabilitationTranscranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)Arm MovementHand MovementMental HealthPain ManagementQuality of Life
    United Kingdom
  • RecruitingNCT07263581

    Effect of Hybrid Functional Electrical Stimulation and Augmented Reality-Based Gait Training on Gait Parameters Among Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury Patients

    The goal of this clinical trial is to determine whether combining Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) with Augmented Reality (AR)-based gait training can improve walking ability in individuals with incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI).

    Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES)RehabilitationWalking Function
    Pakistan
  • Not yet recruitingNCT07583576

    Effects of Functional Electrical Stimulation on Spasticity, Quadriceps Muscle Strength and Functional Mobility in Individuals With Paraplegia

    Spinal cord injury (SCI)-related paraplegia is a complex neurological condition characterized by motor impairment, increased spasticity, and significant functional limitations in daily activities.

    Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES)Spasticity
  • RecruitingNCT07588503

    FES Cycling With BFR in the Spinal Cord Injury Population

    Cardiometabolic Disease (CMD) is the silent killer within the spinal cord injury/disease (SCI/D) population. Many SCI/D patients' initial CMD presentation is with a heart attack, stroke, or sudden cardiac death, highlighting the need for interventions to reduce CMD risk.

    Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES)Rehabilitation
    Canada
  • Enrolling by invitationNCT07645144

    FES-assisted Gait Training for Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury

    Spinal cord injuries (SCI) impair neural communication, leading to difficulties in walking due to muscle weakness, altered reflexes, and impaired muscle activation below the injury.

    Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES)Walking Function
    Netherlands
  • RecruitingNCT07299734

    Feasibility and Safety of a Combined Augmented Reality and Functional Electrical Stimulation System

    Cervical spinal cord injury (cSCI) can result in substantial loss of upper-limb function, with associated socio-economic impact on affected individuals and the healthcare system.

    Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES)Arm Movement
    Canada
  • Not yet recruitingNCT07773974

    Functional Electrical Stimulation Plus High Intensity Interval Training at Home

    People living with SCI may experience loss of sensation, movement and regular body function. One way to address these impairments is activity-based therapy (ABT), which includes movement-based activities that promote the muscle-brain connection below the level of injury.

    Electrical StimulationFunctional Electrical Stimulation (FES)RehabilitationMotor FunctionSensory FunctionSpasticity
    Canada
  • RecruitingNCT07648173

    Hybrid HIIT-FES Cycling Program on Individuals With Spinal Cord Injury to Improve Health

    Project Summary/Abstract Obesity and metabolic syndrome (obesity, dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia, hypertension) are epidemic in the spinal cord injured (SCI) population.

    Electrical StimulationFunctional Electrical Stimulation (FES)Blood Pressure
    1 US site · Mississippi
  • RecruitingNCT07404761

    Safety and Effectiveness of Spatial StimelMD (SSMD) in Subjects With Upper Limb Neuromotor Impairments

    This is a multicenter, randomized, controlled clinical study evaluating the safety and effectiveness of the Spatial StimelMD (SSMD) device for upper-limb neuromotor rehabilitation in adults with impairment following stroke or traumatic brain injury (TBI).

    DevicesElectrical StimulationFunctional Electrical Stimulation (FES)RehabilitationArm MovementMotor FunctionQuality of Life
    Israel
  • Enrolling by invitationNCT07683780

    Spinal Stimulation + FES-Assisted Cough Training in SCI

    The overall objective of this proposal is to determine if transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (tSCS) delivered concurrently with functional electrical stimulation (FES)-assisted cough training (FES-Cough) is an effective intervention to improve cough strength and coordination in individuals with…

    Electrical StimulationFunctional Electrical Stimulation (FES)Transcutaneous StimulationBreathing FunctionMotor Function
    1 US site · Illinois
  • RecruitingNCT06998134

    Toward Ubiquitous Lower Limb Exoskeleton Use in Children and Young Adults

    People with cerebral palsy (CP), muscular dystrophy (MD), spina bifida, or spinal cord injury often have muscle weakness, and problems moving their arms and legs. The NIH designed a new brace device, called an exoskeleton, that is worn on the legs and helps people walk.

    DevicesElectrical StimulationExoskeletonFunctional Electrical Stimulation (FES)ObservationalLeg MovementWalking Function
    1 US site · Maryland

Running, but closed to new participants (1)

Active studies that are no longer enrolling. Useful for seeing where the field is heading.

Completed and closed (75)

Completed, terminated, withdrawn, or last reported with an unknown status. Completed trials are where published results come from.

  • Completed NCT05940636 A Novel Combined Neuromodulation Therapy to Enhance Balance and Neuroplasticity
  • Completed NCT06087445 A User-friendly, Non-invasive Neuro-orthosis That Restores Volitionally Controlled Grasp Functions for SCI Survivors With Tetraplegia
  • Completed NCT02200393 Abdominal Functional Electrical Stimulation (AFES) to Assist Ventilator Weaning in Tetraplegia
  • Unknown NCT01800409 Abdominal Functional Electrical Stimulation Training and Its Effect on Mechanical Insufflation-Exsufflation
  • Unknown NCT00202631 Abdominal Functional Electrical Stimulation in Tetraplegia
  • Completed NCT03267212 Acute Effect of Ventilatory Support During Exercise in Spinal Cord Injury
  • Terminated NCT04137159 An Exercise Intervention to Reduce Neuropathic Pain and Brain Inflammation After Spinal Cord Injury
  • Completed NCT04309448 Augmenting Reactive Stepping With FES After SCI
  • Completed NCT01852279 BCI and FES for Hand Therapy in Spinal Cord Injury
  • Completed NCT00221117 Benefits of Applying Neuroprosthesis to Improve Grasping and Reaching in Spinal Cord Injury Patients
  • Terminated NCT01440452 CNS Growth Factors Release and Changes in the Inflammatory Environment in Response to Electrical Stimulation in Subjects With Inflammatory Myelopathies
  • Unknown NCT01470950 Characterization of the Changes in the Signalling Pathways During Spinal Cord Injury-induced Skeletal Muscle Atrophy
  • Completed NCT07550699 Clinical Investigation to Validate the Safety and Performance of Integrating Functional Electrical Stimulation Into the ABLE Exoskeleton
  • Completed NCT04566809 Cognitive Rehabilitation and FES for Hand Functionality in Persons With Cervical Spinal Cord Injury
  • Completed NCT06912217 Comparison of the Effects of Robotic Rehabilitation, Functional Electrical Stimulation and Occupational Therapy on Upper Extremity and Hand Functions in Tetraplegic Patients With Spinal Cord Injury
  • Unknown NCT00204113 Control of Unsupported Paraplegic Standing
  • Withdrawn NCT04369131 Controlling Orthostatic Hypotension in People with Cervical Spinal Cord Injury
  • Completed NCT04592679 Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of a Rehabilitation Protocol With FES Cycling in Persons With Complete SCI
  • Terminated NCT03254862 Different Stimulation Patterns to Reduce Muscle Fatigue During FES
  • Completed NCT05255679 Early FES Cycling in Acute Spinal Cord Injury for Neuromuscular Preservation and Neurorecovery
  • Completed NCT00223912 Effect of Exercise on Blood Coagulation in Persons With Chronic Spinal Cord Injury
  • Completed NCT03643770 Effect of a Novel Intervention Using Daily Intermittent Hypoxia and High Intensity Training on Upper Limb Function in Individuals With Spinal Cord Injury
  • Completed NCT03837834 Effects of 6 Weeks High-intensity Interval Training Among Spinal Cord Injury
  • Completed NCT06421753 Efficiency of Spatially Distributed Sequential Stimulation (Sdss) for Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) of Upper Motor Neuron Syndrome (UMR) Patients
  • Completed NCT04307303 Electrical Stimulation of Abdominal Muscles for Bowel Management in People With Spinal Cord Injury
  • Completed NCT03237234 Enhancing Corticospinal Activation for Improved Walking Function
  • Completed NCT05744271 Evaluation of FES+VFBT With Individuals With Lived Experience
  • Completed NCT00270855 Exercise to Reduce Obesity in Spinal Cord Injury
  • Completed NCT07385456 FES Arm Cycling on Functional Ability and Strength in People With SCI
  • Completed NCT03810963 FES Cycling and Nutritional Counseling for Battling Obesity After SCI
  • Completed NCT02008149 FES Rowing for Skeletal Health After SCI
  • Completed NCT01208688 FES Therapy:Restoring Voluntary Grasping Function in Chronic SCI
  • Terminated NCT01426555 FES-Rowing Versus Zoledronic Acid to Improve Bone Health in Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)
  • Completed NCT05908175 FES-assisted Gait Intervention in People with Spinal Cord Injury - Pilot Study
  • Completed NCT00245726 Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) Cycling for Children With Spinal Cord Injuries (SCI)
  • Completed NCT01479777 Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) Driven Stepping in Individuals With Spinal Cord Injury
  • Terminated NCT03048331 Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) and Reconstructive Tetraplegia Hand and Arm Surgery
  • Completed NCT03834324 Functional Electrical Stimulation During Cycling in People With Spinal Cord Injury
  • Completed NCT00589199 Functional Electrical Stimulation for Production of Artificial Cough
  • Unknown NCT00201968 Functional Electrical Stimulation-Assisted Walking: Reduction of Secondary Complications Due to Spinal Cord Injury
  • Terminated NCT03658798 Grasping Rehabilitation With Functional Electrical Stimulation Garment
  • Completed NCT05128994 Hand Grasp Function After Spinal Cord Injury
  • Completed NCT02139436 Hybrid-FES Exercise to Prevent Cardiovascular Declines in Acute SCI
  • Completed NCT00060983 Improving Gait in Patients With Spinal Cord Injuries
  • Completed NCT00656149 In-home Telerehabilitation for Quadriplegic Hand Function
  • Completed NCT04881565 Losing Balance to Prevent Falls After Spinal Cord Injury (RBT+FES)
  • Terminated NCT04367623 Motor Conditioning to Enhance the Effect of Physical Therapy
  • Completed NCT06321172 Muscle and Bone Changes After 6 Months of FES Cycling
  • Completed NCT00108043 Orthostatic Tolerance During FES (Functional Electrical Stimulation)-Walking in Paraplegia
  • Unknown NCT00204100 Paraplegic Cycling: Improving Health After Spinal Cord Injury
  • Completed NCT03257982 Patient Self-managed BCI-FES
  • Terminated NCT01005615 Patterned Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) Ergometry of Arm and Shoulder in Individuals With Spinal Cord Injury
  • Unknown NCT05253989 Pilot Study of EMG-Directed Virtual-Reality Experience Training for Motor Stroke Rehabilitation
  • Completed NCT05462925 Prediction of Muscle Responsiveness to FES Therapy
  • Completed NCT04102826 Restoration of Arm Function in People With High-level Tetraplegia
  • Terminated NCT01292811 Restoration of Upper Limb Function in Individuals With Sub-Acute Spinal Cord Injury
  • Completed NCT03482310 Restoring High Dimensional Hand Function to Persons With Chronic High Tetraplegia
  • Completed NCT04262414 Restoring Upright Mobility After Spinal Cord Injury
  • Completed NCT01236976 SCIPA Full-On :Intensive Exercise Program After Spinal Cord Injury
  • Completed NCT02660073 Skeletal Muscle Hypertrophy and Cardio-Metabolic Benefits After Spinal Cord Injury
  • Completed NCT03495986 Spinal Cord Injury Exercise and Nutrition Conceptual Engagement
  • Completed NCT00987155 Spinal Cord Injury: Endurance, Strength and Cardiac Function Induced by Efficient Training Protocols
  • Terminated NCT01217047 Study on Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) Cycling Following Spinal Cord Injury
  • Completed NCT04964635 TETRAGRIP II - Usability Trial of an FES Orthosis for People With Tetraplegia.
  • Completed NCT05597176 Telemonitored Exercise to Attenuate Metabolic Dysregulation in Spinal Cord Injury
  • Completed NCT03517787 The Effect of FES and Therapeutic Exercise on SCI Patients Skeletal Muscles, Sitting Balance, Posture and Quality of Life
  • Completed NCT00291317 The Effect of FES on Children With Spinal Cord Injury
  • Completed NCT06541197 The Effect of Functional Electrical Stimulation Cycling Ergometry in Addition to Robotic Rehabilitation
  • Completed NCT06104982 The Effect of Superimposed Electrical Stimulation on Sitting Balance, Respiratory Functions, and Abdominal Muscle Thickness in Complete Spinal Cord Injury
  • Completed NCT01244594 The Effects of Two Functional Electrical Stimulation Cycling Paradigms
  • Unknown NCT05249595 Ultrasound Imaging Based Sensing of Human Ankle Motion Intent and Control Strategies for Ankle Assistance
  • Terminated NCT03721861 Use of Neural Functional Electrical Stimulation for the Recovery of Grasping Movements for Patient With Quadriplegia.
  • Completed NCT02865343 Ventilatory Support to Improve Exercise Training in High Level Spinal Cord Injury
  • Completed NCT00857831 Vitamin D and Calcium Study
  • Completed NCT03411720 Whole Body Exercise in Spinal Cord Injury: Effects on Psychosocial Function

Where this list comes from

Trials are pulled daily from the ClinicalTrials.gov registry and tagged by what they study and what they target. This page reflects the 2026-09-12 refresh of the 2,167 spinal cord injury trials SCI.help tracks. Eligibility criteria, study contacts, exact sites, and results live on each trial's ClinicalTrials.gov record, linked above. The full dataset is public at /data/sci_trials.min.json.

Before contacting a study team, read clinical trials and SCI research, honestly and how to spot a predatory "trial".