Neurogenic Bowel Dysfunction

The goal of this study is to test the safety and effectiveness of Vibrant capsules in spinal cord injury patients with neurogenic bowel.

The investigators are testing the effect of electrical stimulation of the rectum on colonic motility. Most individuals with spinal cord injury develop neurogenic bowel dysfunction, which includes slowed colonic motility, which means that stools take longer than normal to pass through the colon. This slowed movement may result in chronic constipation and difficulty emptying the bowels. Individuals typically (without or without caregiver assistance) insert a gloved finger into the rectum and gently stretch it to improve colonic motility for a brief period to empty the bowels. The investigators hypothesize that electrically stimulating the rectum, instead of mechanically stretching it, will produce the same beneficial effect of improving colonic motility. Therefore, this study will compare the two methods. If electrical stimulation effectively improves colonic motility, then the investigator shall develop the approach as a therapeutic intervention in future studies.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of patient education delivered through an artificial intelligence (AI)-based mobile application in the management of neurogenic bowel dysfunction in individuals with spinal cord injury. Within the scope of the study, it will be examined whether the mobile application reduces neurogenic bowel scores, contributes to maintaining stool scores within the normal range, and improves the quality of life of individuals. Accordingly, the AI-based education model to be developed is expected to facilitate the integration of bowel management practices into daily life, prevent complications, and enhance social participation. \-

This study is a pilot clinical trial to explore the efficacy of transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (TCSCS) (proof-of-concept) in mitigating crucial autonomic dysfunctions that impact the health-related quality of life of individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI).