ARC-EX Shows Promise for Improving Hand & Arm Function

Mountain States Chapter member Ismael Baca shares his experience with the device and the changes he’s noticed.

Ismael Baca didn’t believe what was happening. For the first time since sustaining a spinal cord injury 11 years earlier, he was holding a fork and moving his hand, and the fork didn’t fall on the floor. Baca was trying a new device called ARC-EX. He asked his therapist to turn it off. Then, he dropped the fork.

“I started sobbing like a little kid,” he said. “I just felt like there was a little bit of hope.”

Baca, who has a C5/C6 spinal cord injury, continued using the ARC-EX System about three times a week for more than four months. The device sends electrical signals to the spinal cord through electrodes on the skin.

He noticed steady gains in his grip strength and finger dexterity, even outside of therapy. He credits the treatment with helping him use a fork to feed himself, open a door and get dishes out of a cabinet.

“My life has gotten easier,” he said. “I tell everybody I talk to to try it.”

He noticed other changes, too. Shoulder pain, which had woken him up most nights, disappeared. His bowel function became more predictable. His core strength improved, which he said makes driving easier because he can hold himself up better.

But one of the changes that meant the most to him was being able to hold his newborn grandson. When Baca’s granddaughter was born five years ago, he could hold her for only about 10 seconds—just long enough for a photo. When his grandson was born in August, he held him for an hour.

Baca’s experience is one example of what ARC-EX can do, but results vary from person to person. Jenny Suggitt, an occupational therapist and associate marketing director at ONWARD Medical, which makes ARC-EX, explains more about the technology in the Q&A below.

What is ARC-EX?

ARC-EX is the first system cleared for non-invasive spinal cord stimulation for people with spinal cord injury. It delivers transcutaneous electrical spinal cord stimulation in conjunction with functional task practice in the clinic and with take-home exercises at home to improve hand sensation and strength.

How does ARC-EX work?

Transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation excites the spinal cord so that signals weakened by injury can drive movement. That movement enables rehabilitation that results in improvement in hand strength and sensation. ARC-EX delivers spinal cord stimulation through electrodes on the skin at the back of the neck. A rehabilitation professional programs the stimulation according to each individual’s needs and provides take-home exercises to maximize improvement.

What are its uses and potential benefits?

Results of the Up-LIFT clinical study showed that 90% of study participants improved strength or function, 87% reported improvement in quality of life, and benefits were observed up to 34 years post-injury. The study also reported less spasm frequency, improved sleep quality and improved upper body sensation and sense of touch.

How soon does it start working?

Results vary by individual.

How do you decide if someone is a candidate for ARC-EX?

ARC-EX is for people ages 18-75 with chronic, incomplete cervical spinal cord injury (C2-C8). A rehabilitation professional will evaluate if ARC-EX is appropriate for the individual.

What are the side effects?

During ARC-EX therapy, it is completely normal to feel sensations like buzzing, tingling or mild neck contractions. Common side effects are generally mild and temporary, such as skin redness or irritation and temporary muscle spasms or stiffness. As with any spinal cord stimulation, patients should be trained to monitor for autonomic dysreflexia (a sudden change in blood pressure) and stop stimulation immediately if it occurs. Your healthcare professional will train you on warning signs and ensure proper electrode placement and setup.

How can veterans access ARC-EX?

ARC-EX is available to order through the VA. Veterans should contact their VA primary care team through My HealtheVet to request a rehabilitation consultation to determine if ARC-EX is appropriate.