UnityPoint Health – St. Luke’s Hospital Becomes First in Iowa to Offer New Therapy for Spinal Cord Injury Patients
Jan 21, 2026UnityPoint Health – St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids is the first hospital in Iowa – to offer the ARC EX™ system, a non-invasive therapy device that works to help spinal cord injury patients regain strength and function.
For patients like John Teske, a high school volleyball coach from Eldora, the technology is offering something he once feared was out of reach: renewed independence.
Teske sustained a spinal cord injury in a 2020 farming accident, drastically affecting his mobility and daily living abilities. With support from his family and the rehabilitation team at UnityPoint Health – St. Luke’s Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, he committed himself to recovery. This year, he became one of the first Iowans to begin treatment using the newly acquired ARC EX system.
Developed to stimulate dormant neural pathways, ARC EX delivers targeted electrical stimulation through small adhesive patches placed on the neck and hips. The compact, portable device is available at St. Luke’s Spinal Cord Injury Clinic under the direction of Dr. Elissa Zakrasek. It is designed to enhance hand, arm and core function for individuals living with spinal cord injuries.
“Since starting therapy with ARC EX, I’ve noticed sensations in my arms and feet I haven’t felt since my accident,” Teske said. “I’m now able to open bottles and tie my shoelaces using both hands for the first time in years. It’s giving me new hope. I encourage anyone who qualifies to take advantage of this opportunity.”
Teske’s progress is similar to results seen in national research. A 2024 study published in Nature Medicine found that 90% of study participants using ARC EX experienced clinically meaningful improvements in at least one major strength or function measure.
“This technology represents a major step forward in spinal cord rehabilitation,” said Dr. Zakrasek. “For many patients, ARC EX provides opportunities to reclaim movement and independence that once felt impossible.”
St. Luke’s Spinal Cord Injury Clinic provides care for both inpatients and outpatients and is located on the hospital’s sixth floor. Individuals seeking more information about ARC EX therapy or other spinal cord injury services may call (319) 369 7331.
“Since starting therapy with ARC EX, I’ve noticed sensations in my arms and feet I haven’t felt since my accident. I’m now able to open bottles and tie my shoelaces using both hands for the first time in years. It’s giving me new hope. I encourage anyone who qualifies to take advantage of this opportunity.”
