Synergizing science and therapy: Neurorepair and neurorehabilitation in spinal cord injury recovery

Introduction: Devastating motor, sensory, and autonomic deficits with little spontaneous recovery are the outcome of spinal cord injury (SCI). In the past, therapeutic strategies have frequently focused on either biological healing or functional restoration through rehabilitation. Emerging data supports regenerative rehabilitation, which is a synergistic strategy combining regenerative medicine and activity-based rehabilitation, to improve outcomes after spinal cord injury (SCI). Objective: The purpose of this review is to summarize the most recent research on regenerative rehabilitation techniques for SCI, examining their processes, advancements in translation, and possible applications in clinical settings. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted on spinal cord injury, regenerative medicine, neurorehabilitation, stem cells, and neuroplasticity, focusing on peer-reviewed publications discussing combination or synergistic therapies. Results: Stem cell transplantation and rehabilitation training enhance motor recovery, axonal regrowth, synaptic reconfiguration, and task-specific therapy, with neurotrophic factors and bioengineered scaffolds improving endogenous repair. Conclusion: Regenerative rehabilitation is a paradigm change in the treatment of SCI that combines the reparative potential of regenerative medicine with the plasticity-enhancing benefits of rehabilitation. For such combinatory approaches to continue to be successful, timing, dosage, and individualization must be optimized.