Investigators intend to determine the ultimate usefulness of functional magnetic stimulation (FMS) as an assistive device for voiding in patients with SCI.~Thirty six persons will be recruited and will undergo an 8 week protocol for conditioning of the bladder. The investigators propose to: investigate the changes in bladder function in response to long-term bladder conditioning by FMS; further optimize the FMS technology and parameters for effective bladder emptying in SCI; evaluate the role of the external sphincter muscle fatigue by FS in facilitating bladder emptying; critically evaluate the relative response of FMS data to existing information using functional electrical stimulation;further develop criteria that will be used to predict which SCI patients are optimally suitable for FMS; establish a comprehensive stimulation criteria that will reflect the safety and effectiveness of structures associated with the bladder that are exposed to the electro-myographic field.
This project will determine the ultimate usefulness of functional magnetic stimulation (FMS) as an assistive device for voiding in patients with SCI.