Abstract: Objective Electrical therapy is an important treatment in the clinical spinal cord injury. It provides an effective modality to improve the various dysfunction after spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods Four kinds of electrical technologies were reviewed. They are electrical stimulation on spinal cord injury site, functional electrical stimulation on the paralysis of limbs, diaphragm pacing on respiratory insufficiency and neural modulation on voiding dysfunction. Results (1)DC electric field could promote untransected axonal regeneration, and the oscillating electric field can promote two-way repair of the cranial and caudal spinal axons. (2)Functional electrical stimulation, used to reconstruct the neuromuscular function, stimulate the muscle of the limb, causing muscle contraction and limb motion, thus complete the extension of elbow, grasping, standing, walking and other motor function, and prevent complications.(3)Diaphragm pacing can induce diaphragm muscle contraction, to maintain the natural negative pressure breathing in patients with diaphragmatic dysfunction.(4)The electric frequency of 5-20 Hz and pulse width 1-5 ms can both effectively inhibit detrusor contraction and improve pelvic functions. Conclusion Electric therapy as a treatment technology, shows not only the similar effects as bioelectricity, but also various characteristics under different electrical conditions. In future research, the combination of electrical treatment technology and other technology should be strengthened, so as to solve more clinical problems.

Key words: translational medicine, spinal cord injury, electrical treatment