Sympathetic Skin Response Shows Promise as Reliable Tool for Evaluating Autonomic Functions in Individuals with Spinal Cord Injury

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Research published in the journal Spinal Cord suggests that sympathetic skin response (SSR) induced by supraorbital nerve stimulation can be a reliable tool for evaluating autonomic functions in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). The study, conducted by researchers at Chiang Mai University in Thailand, assessed the test-retest reliability of SSR using supraorbital nerve stimulation method in individuals with SCI. The results showed excellent test-retest reliability for hand SSR scores and good reliability for foot SSR scores in the overall SCI population.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study recruited 40 individuals with SCI and used supraorbital nerve stimulation to induce SSR.
  • The results showed excellent test-retest reliability for hand SSR scores (ICC = 0.963) and good reliability for foot SSR scores (ICC = 0.833).
  • The study found that hand SSR scores were more reliable than foot SSR scores, with a moderate level of test-retest reliability observed in the elderly subgroup (age 60).
  • The researchers concluded that SSR, induced by supraorbital nerve stimulation method, should be a reliable tool for evaluating autonomic functions in individuals with SCI.
  • The study was published in the journal Spinal Cord, a peer-reviewed journal published by Springer Nature.

Statistics:

  • 40 individuals with SCI were recruited for the study.
  • The ICC for hand SSR scores was 0.963 (95% CI: 0.888-0.967).
  • The ICC for foot SSR scores was 0.833 (95% CI: 0.707-0.908).
  • The study found that hand SSR scores were more reliable than foot SSR scores, with a moderate level of test-retest reliability observed in the elderly subgroup (age 60).

Sources:

  • Reliability of sympathetic skin response in individuals with spinal cord injury: a supraorbital nerve stimulation approach. Spinal Cord, 2025.
  • Health & Medicine Week. October 31, 2025; p 7798.
  • NewsRx. Study Data from Chiang Mai University Update Understanding of Spinal Cord Injury (Reliability of sympathetic skin response in individuals with spinal cord injury: a supraorbital nerve stimulation approach).
  • Spinal Cord, a peer-reviewed journal published by Springer Nature.