The initial effects of spinal cord stimulation on pain and health-related quality of life remained after the introduction of physical activity interventions, with no additional improvements observed beyond 3 months after implantation.
Neuropathic pain intensity was significantly reduced from baseline at both 9 and 21 months after spinal cord stimulation implantation.
Health-related quality of life (EQ-5D VAS) improved significantly from baseline at 9 and 21 months after implantation.
No statistically significant changes in physical activity levels were observed across the study period.
Changes from the 3-month assessment were not statistically significant at 9 or 21 months for any outcomes, indicating no additional benefit from the add-on physical activity interventions.
The study used a prospective single-arm design with 35 adults completing the full protocol of SCS followed by a structured physical activity intervention programme.
This research suggests that spinal cord stimulation (SCS) — a therapy that uses electrical impulses to reduce chronic nerve pain — can meaningfully reduce pain and improve quality of life in people with neuropathic pain. In a study of 35 patients, average pain scores dropped from 6.6 out of 10 before treatment to 4.8 out of 10 at both 9 and 21 months after device implantation, and self-reported quality of life improved by around 15–16 points on a 100-point scale. The study also tested whether adding a structured physiotherapy exercise programme (starting 3 months after implantation) and a formal physical activity prescription (starting 9 months after implantation) could further improve outcomes. This research suggests that these add-on programmes did not produce additional measurable improvements in pain, quality of life, or objectively measured physical activity levels beyond what was achieved with SCS alone by the 3-month mark. Accelerometer data showed no significant changes in how physically active participants actually were throughout the study. These findings matter because they raise questions about the additional value of structured physical activity interventions layered onto SCS for this patient population, at least as implemented in this study. The results do not mean exercise is unhelpful for people with chronic pain generally, but they suggest that the timing, format, or type of physical activity programme may need further investigation to determine how best to support long-term improvements in function alongside SCS therapy.
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Upload Your LabsGottfridsson R, Varkey E, Gatzinsky K, Thörn H, Börjesson M, Arvidsson D, et al.. (2026). Long-term effects of spinal cord stimulation combined with a physiotherapist-led exercise programme and physical activity on prescription for chronic neuropathic pain.. Journal of rehabilitation medicine. https://doi.org/10.2340/jrm.v58.46459