Schedule:
Sunday, November 15, 2026
10AM-2:15PM EST
10:00AM - 11:00AM:
Spasticity reduction: Lecture and Hands-On Practice
11:00AM-12:00PM EST
Dystonia modulation: Lecture and Hands-On Practice
12:00PM-12:15PM EST
Break
12:15PM -1:15PM EST
Hypotonia: Lecture and Hands-On Practice
1:15PM - 2:15PM EST
Treatment of demonstration children
This schedule provides a comprehensive learning experience, allowing time for in-depth lectures, extended hands-on practice, and a dedicated Q&A session to address any remaining questions.
Program Objectives:
Upon completion of this advanced training, participants will be able to:
- Apply advanced stimulation techniques to reduce spasticity, modulate dystonia, and support improved postural control.
- Develop and implement individualized protocols for children with hypotonia to enhance motor unit recruitment, trunk stability, and functional strength.
- Integrate clinical reasoning with electrode placement skills to optimize tone modulation and postural alignment across complex neuromotor presentations.
- Demonstrate competency in clinical practice by observing and participating in treatment of children with spasticity, dystonia, and hypotonia.
Articles about electrical stimulation in pediatrics:
Published specifically about this surface spinal electrical stimulation treatment Gerti Motavalli developed together with Dr. Alon
An Exploratory Electrical Stimulation Protocol in the Management of an Infant With Spina Bifida: A Case Report Gerti Motavalli, MPT1 , Jan J. McElroy, PT, PhD, PCS2 , and Gad Alon, PhD, PT3Ø Search: Child Neurology Open Sage Pub Electrical Stimulation https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/2329048X19835656
The application of functional electrical stimulation and noninvasive spinal cord electrical stimulation (transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation) protocols to a 6-month old infant with myelomeningocele has not been previously reported in the medical literature. The observed gradual development of previously absent sensory and motor responses in this infant was novel, surprising, and encouraging. Functional electrical stimulation and spinal cord electrical stimulation are well tolerated and have minimal, transient adverse events when applied to infants with spina bifida. The initial positive outcomes and safety of the novel application of electrical stimulation for this case infant provide a basis for further research into a new intervention approach which could enhance development for infants born with spina bifida.
Transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (tSCS) is emerging as a promising non-invasive intervention for reducing spasticity in children, particularly those with cerebral palsy (CP) and spinal cord injury (SCI). Recent studies demonstrate both neuromodulatory benefits and improvements in motor control, making it a viable option for pediatric neurorehabilitation.
A 2023 pilot study by Shrivastav et al. (Transcutaneous Spinal Stimulation and Short-burst Interval Treadmill Training in Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Pilot Study, IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering doi: 10.1109/TBME.2024.3522317) investigated the combination of tSCS with short-burst interval treadmill training in children with CP. The results showed sustained reductions in spasticity for up to 8 weeks post-intervention. These improvements were accompanied by enhancements in walking function, suggesting a dual benefit of the intervention.
Building on this, a 2024 study by the same group Shrivastav et al. Transcutaneous Spinal Stimulation and Short-Burst Interval Treadmill Training in Children With Cerebral Palsy: A Pilot Study, IEEE Transactions on Biomedic... >Volume: 72 Issue: 5 reinforced these findings. In this multi-session protocol, improvements in spasticity were consistently observed, further supporting the feasibility of integrating tSCS into pediatric therapy regimens.
An earlier controlled study by Solopova et al. (2017) Effects of spinal cord stimulation on motor functions in children with cerebral palsy, Neuroscience Letters, Volume 639, 3 February 2017, Pages 192-198 provided foundational evidence for spinal cord stimulation in children with spastic diplegic CP, reporting motor function improvements after stimulation at two spinal levels. EMG data confirmed decreased spastic responses post-stimulation.
In a broader review of tSCS application across age groups, Singh et al. (2023) Transcutaneous Spinal Stimulation From Adults to Children: A Review, Top Spinal Cord Inj Rehabil (2023) 29 (1): 16–32. https://doi.org/10.46292/sci21-00084 discuss how neuromodulatory principles effective in adults appear to translate well into pediatric populations, with similar reductions in spasticity and potential for motor recovery.
Although tSCS studies in pediatric SCI populations are still sparse, preliminary research
like Singh et al. (2024) Safety and Feasibility of Cervical and Thoracic Transcutaneous Spinal Cord Stimulation to Improve Hand Motor Function in Children With Chronic Spinal Cord Injury, Neuromodulation: Technology at the Neural Interface, Volume 27, Issue 4, June 2024, Pages 661-671 has confirmed its safety and feasibility in children with chronic SCI, laying groundwork for future clinical use.
Together, these studies signal a growing consensus: tSCS can safely reduce spasticity and enhance function in children, especially when combined with gait training or neurodevelopmental therapies.