A motorized system was used to test velocity-dependent ankle resistance and associated electromyographical activity. In the present study, the long-term effects of repeated tsDCS to attenuate abnormal muscle tone in awake female mice with spinal cord injuries were investigated. We previously demonstrated in anaesthetized mice that a short period of trans-spinal subthreshold direct current stimulation (tsDCS) reduces spasticity.

Thus, spasticity negatively influences an individual's quality of life and novel therapeutic interventions are needed. Spasticity can cause pain, fatigue and sleep disturbances restrict daily activities such as walking, sitting and bathing and complicate rehabilitation efforts.

Pharmacological, molecular and cellular evidence further suggest that a novel mechanism involving Na-K-Cl cotransporter isoform 1 mediates the observed long-term effects of repeated a-tsDCS.In the present study, a-tsDCS was performed for 7 days and this was found to cause long-term reduction in spasticity, increased rate-dependent depression in spinal reflexes, and improved ground and skill locomotion.However, the long-term effects of repeated a-tsDCS and its mechanism of action remained unknown. Previously, we established that application of anodal trans-spinal direct current stimulation (a-tsDCS) for short periods of time to anaesthetized mice sustaining a spinal cord injury leads to an instantaneous reduction of spasticity.

This condition involves an overactive spinal reflex loop that resists the passive lengthening of muscles.

Spasticity is a disorder of muscle tone that is associated with lesions of the motor system.

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