Using mTrigger Biofeedback to Redefine Progress after Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal cord injuries (SCI) present a unique challenge for patients, families, and clinicians. They often demand innovative approaches to restore function, build strength, and foster independence. As physical and occupational therapists, your role in guiding recovery is pivotal and empowering.

In this post, we’ll explore how mTrigger biofeedback can become a game-changer in your practice. Whether you’re working to help patients regain voluntary movement, improve motor control, or rebuild confidence, this tool offers a data-driven approach to achieving better outcomes. Let’s dive into the potential of sEMG biofeedback for SCI rehabilitation and how it can redefine progress for your patients.

What happens after a spinal cord injury?
After SCI, the ascending and descending nerve fiber tracts that carry motor information to and from the brain can become damaged.(1) This damage may be temporary or permanent.(1) After the nerve injury, re-organization of the effected motor circuits or growth of new circuits (called axonal sprouting/axonal growth) is possible.(1) When this occurs, new axons end up occupying the motor synapse.(1) Retraining of these new axons and motor circuits is necessary for functional recovery to take place.(1)

This is where mTrigger sEMG biofeedback comes in. To help the brain “re-wire” after such an injury, frequent repetition of these new motor pathways (called corticospinal tracts) is essential.(1) This cutting-edge tool allows therapists to enhance neuromuscular activation, helping SCI patients reconnect with their bodies and optimize therapeutic outcomes. For example, during walking/locomotion training on a treadmill or with repetitive reaching and grasping tasks.(1) By providing real-time feedback, mTrigger transforms muscle activation from an abstract goal into a measurable, actionable target.

Many studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of sEMG biofeedback in the rehabilitation of spinal cord injury.(1–3)

Improving lower limb function
mTrigger biofeedback can be utilized with progressive functional exercise to help improve muscle activation of the rectus femoris.(1) In this specific study, the authors progressed participants 2-15 years out from SCI (mean 8 years) through a series of functional tasks with the addition of sEMG biofeedback on the rectus femoris.(1) All patient’s felt like they had reached a plateau in their rehab progress. Patients first began with a seated knee extension exercise where they watched biofeedback demonstrate increased muscle activation, in the case of mTrigger, they would watch the meter rise into the green.

Next, patients performed a sit to stand exercise continuing to work on increasing rectus femoris activation during a more challenging task. The addition of biofeedback allows the patient to both see and feel exactly what they are trying to accomplish.

Then, the patient progressed to standing, sometimes with an assistive device or PT/OT assist. Again, the goal was to see the biofeedback indicate increased activation of the rectus femoris during a standing task.

Finally, patients progressed to walking on a treadmill with biofeedback. All patients were able to demonstrate a significant increase in muscle activation regardless of time since injury.(1)

Improving upper limb function
Brucker and Bulaeva used sEMG biofeedback on the triceps to help increase muscle activation with repetitive reaching and grasping tasks.(3)

Improving Gait
A large volume of research has been dedicated to gait and locomotion training after spinal cord injury.(2) Typically the focus is on increasing the EMG amplitude of the lower limb target muscles as well as improving the coordination of those movements.(2) Through repetition and the addition of visual biofeedback, tremendous progress can be made in this area.

Summary
sEMG biofeedback can help with the cortical reorganization of motor circuits that occurs after spinal cord injury.(1) Studies have shown that biofeedback is still effective in patients who feels like they have plateaued or are many years out from injury.(1) With the addition of mTrigger biofeedback to your rehabilitation program, improvements in functional recovery are still possible even years after an injury. sEMG biofeedback works on the brain and motor system in a way beyond just exercise alone.(1)