Spinal Cord Neuromodulation

Speaker Bio:
Sisto comes to UB from Stony Brook University, where she has served as professor of physical therapy since 2007. She also served as chair of the PhD program in health and rehabilitation science, for which she was director of the rehabilitation and movement sciences concentration. In addition, she developed and directed the Rehabilitation Research and Movement Performance (RRAMP) Laboratory in Stony Brook’s School of Health Technology and Management since 2009. Sisto received her bachelor’s degree in physical therapy from St. Louis University, as well as both a master’s degree and PhD from New York University. She has been a physical therapist for more than 35 years, specializing in pathokinesiology, the study of human movement as it relates to any abnormal condition affecting movement. Most recently, she has focused on recovery of walking and health outcomes after spinal cord injury. Sisto’s work has focused on the evaluation of movement using 3-D movement analysis technology, electromyography, kinetic analysis and metabolic exercise capacity. In 2012, she became the first physical therapist to be named a fellow of the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine (ACRM), which recognizes individuals who make significant contributions to the field of medical rehabilitation, and she served as president of ACRM from 2013-15.

Abstract:
Spinal cord injury (SCI) gait is often approached clinically with a compensatory approach such as the use of orthotics and wheelchairs. Another approach is called activity based therapy where the goal is to promote motor, sensory and recovery below the level of injury. The animal and human research supporting activity based therapy to enhance the possibility of recovery of standing and walking after SCI will be discussed. Other options to activate the spinal circuitry using modalities such as neuromodulation using magnetic stimulation, transcutaneous stimulation and epidural stimulation will also be presented. Evidence of translation from animal to human models and to clinical application will be addressed.

Acknowledgment:
This talk is supported in part by the Indian Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD)'s Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration (SPARC), grant number 2018−2019/P721/SL, and the Community of Excellence in Global Health Equity at the University at Buffalo–State University of New York, USA.