# Transcutaneous Direct Current Motor Nerve Block for Spasticity

> **NIH NIH R01** · CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY · 2022 · $402,500

## Abstract

Uncoordinated or unwanted generation of nerve impulses is a major disabling factor in many medical
conditions. These can affect motor, sensory, and autonomic nerves. Many of these pathological conditions
could be ameliorated by interrupting these abnormal impulses in the periphery. The accepted methods of
inhibiting neural activity are typically pharmacological (local anesthetics, oral medication, channel blockers,
etc.) or surgical (denervation). Electrical nerve block has been proposed and evaluated as a means of
providing real-time rapidly acting and rapidly reversing nerve block and is a potential candidate for inducing
a reliable, rapid, gradable and reversible nerve block.
 Spasticity, or abnormally increased muscle tone, is a significant complication of stroke, cerebral palsy,
spinal cord injury and traumatic brain injury. Spasticity causes significant disability including loss of movement,
contractures and chronic pain. Electrical nerve block in the form of a non-invasive direct current block has
been recently shown to produce motor block, when applied through the skin. This block has the properties
of rapidity, reversibility and gradability, and repeatability. We propose an innovative direct current muscle
block strategy delivered through the skin that will reduce spasticity and will aid in the rehabilitation of limb
movement by reducing spasticity. The proposal focuses on development and testing of commercial and newly
designed surface electrodes to show the efficacy of motor nerve block and investigate the parameters that
deliver the direct current safely to both the skin and the target nerve.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10378663
- **Project number:** 5R01NS116009-02
- **Recipient organization:** CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Niloy Bhadra
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $402,500
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-04-01 → 2025-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10378663

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10378663, Transcutaneous Direct Current Motor Nerve Block for Spasticity (5R01NS116009-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10378663. Licensed CC0.

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