Spark Wave® Therapy – Promotes Functional Recovery after Spinal Cord Injury

 

 


Effects of Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy on Functional Recovery and Circulating miR-375 and miR-382-5p after Subacute and Chronic Spinal Cord Contusion Injury in Rats

Ashmwe et al., 2022.

Biomedicines. 2022 Jul 7;10(7):1630. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines10071630.

The Research Center in Cooperation with AUVA, Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Traumatology, 1200 Vienna, Austria.

Free full text at: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/10/7/1630

Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) can stimulate processes to promote regeneration, including cell proliferation and modulation of inflammation. Specific miRNA expression panels have been established to define correlations with regulatory targets within these pathways. This study aims to investigate the influence of low-energy ESWT-applied within the subacute and chronic phase of SCI (spinal cord injury) on recovery in a rat spinal cord contusion model. Outcomes were evaluated by gait analysis, µCT and histological analysis of spinal cords. A panel of serum-derived miRNAs after SCI and after ESWT was investigated to identify injury-, regeneration- and treatment-associated expression patterns. Rats receiving ESWT showed significant improvement in motor function in both a subacute and a chronic experimental setting. This effect was not reflected in changes in morphology, µCT-parameters or histological markers after ESWT. Expression analysis of various miRNAs, however, revealed changes after SCI and ESWT, with increased miR-375, indicating a neuroprotective effect, and decreased miR-382-5p potentially improving neuroplasticity via its regulatory involvement with BDNF. We were able to demonstrate a functional improvement of ESWT-treated animals after SCI in a subacute and chronic setting. Furthermore, the identification of miR-375 and miR-382-5p could potentially provide new targets for therapeutic intervention in future studies.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spark Wave® Therapy

  • Is non-invasive and safe.
  • Stimulates neuroregeneration.
  • Improves motor function recovery.

Is a promising treatment modality for rehabilitation of acute traumatic spinal cord injury!

Reference:

  1. Ashmwe M, Posa K, Rührnößl A, Heinzel JC, Heimel P, Mock M, Schädl B, Keibl C, Couillard-Despres S, Redl H, Mittermayr R, Hercher D. Effects of Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy on Functional Recovery and Circulating miR-375 and miR-382-5p after Subacute and Chronic Spinal Cord Contusion Injury in Rats. 2022 Jul 7;10(7):1630. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines10071630. PMID: 35884935; PMCID: PMC9313454.