Emerson Health Becomes First Hospital in Massachusetts to Bring Advanced Xcite2 Electrical Stimulation Therapy to Patients with Spinal Cord Injuries

Latest Technology helps Patients Improve Mobility and Independence

Emerson Health announced today that it is the first hospital in Massachusetts to use Xcite2, an advanced neuro therapy device that applies targeted electrical stimulation to help people with spinal cord injuries (SCI) improve beyond traditional therapies.

Specially trained therapists at Emerson Health’s Clough Family Center for Rehabilitative and Sports Therapies in Concord and Westford, Massachusetts, incorporate Xcite2 into customized treatment plans for eligible patients.

The device delivers carefully timed electrical stimulation to muscles as patients practice real-life tasks, helping retrain their brain and nervous system to improve movement. This approach supports patients’ gains in mobility, including reaching, grasping, and lifting the arms and legs, during outpatient physical and occupational therapy.

“Access to Xcite2 is a game-changer for patients with spinal cord injuries,” said Francesca DeSimone-Farrow, PT, DPT, Board Certified Clinical Specialist in Neurology, Emerson Health. “Using the device during therapy sessions allows patients to improve strength by making paralyzed muscles work together in meaningful ways. Many patients make greater progress than they ever thought was possible.”

Dramatically Improves Mobility
The impact of Xcite2 is deeply personal for patients. “After my injury, even small progress felt impossible,” said Shaun Ramsey, an Emerson physical and occupational therapy patient who has SCI and quadriplegia from a car accident.

“Working with Emerson’s therapists using Xcite2, I am gaining strength in my arms and back, which improves my breathing and posture and increases my mobility. This progress motivates me to work hard towards recovery. I am thankful Emerson has this equipment – it is dramatically improving my life.”

Developed by Restorative Therapies, Xcite2 is part of Emerson Health’s suite of advanced rehabilitation equipment that improves patients’ quality of life. Rehabilitation therapists use Xcite2 with people who have SCI and those recovering from stroke.

Expands Access to Life-Changing Rehabilitation
Emerson Health’s outpatient rehabilitation team treats patients with SCI after discharge from trauma centers in Boston, Central Massachusetts, and Southern New Hampshire. Traveling far for regular appointments is challenging for these patients. With the introduction of Xcite2, these patients now have access to specialized rehabilitation services closer to where they live.

“We are committed to serving patients with advanced care close to home,” said Christine Schuster, RN, MBA, President and CEO of Emerson Health. “Expanding our rehabilitation services reduces barriers to care and supports patients from the region and beyond, throughout their recovery.”

Thanks to a generous grant from the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation, a national leader in improving the lives of people living with spinal cord injuries, Emerson now offers Xcite2 to those who qualify.

For more information about outpatient rehabilitation services at Emerson Health, visit emersonhealth.org/rehab or call 978-287-8200.