View clinical trials related to Spinal Cord Injuries.
Filter by:The objective of this study is to better understand the structural and functional changes that the central nervous system (CNS) undergoes following spinal cord injury and how these changes relate to clinical measures. Both macroscopic and microscopic changes of the brain and the spinal cord will be examined in SCI patients and compared to healthy controls. In terms of structural plasticity, we aim to identify MR biomarkers that allow predicting the course of the patient's neurological status and accurately describe the course of the disease and the recovery. Importantly, we aim to investigate which factors scale the patients' symptoms. In terms of functional plasticity, we will combine fMRI with behavioural testing to understand which clinical and behavioural determinants drive functional hand representations in the primary somatosensory and motor cortices to be maintained and which determinants drive reorganisation of functional representations following sensory input loss. We will further investigate the contribution of brainstem reorganisation to plasticity observed at the cortical level and, by doing so, aim to better understand the mechanistic underpinnings of functional reorganisation.
This is a randomized, controlled, single-blind, multicenter, two Arm (Treatment or "Scaffold" Arm; Standard of Care or "Comparator" Arm) of a Neuro-Spinal Scaffold to evaluate whether the Scaffold is safe and demonstrates probable benefit for the treatment of complete T2-T12 spinal cord injury as compared to standard of care open spine surgery.
The objective of this study is to examine the effects of mild acute intermittent hypoxia (AIH) in combination with an anti-inflammatory drug (i.e. prednisolone) on motor performance in persons with spinal cord injury (SCI).
Central neuropathic pain (CNP) is defined as chronic pain due to injury or disease in the central nervous system. This pain is most common among people with a spinal cord injuries (SCI), with a prevalence of about 50%. The central pain usually develops within a few months of spinal cord injury - and this period is significance in terms of this research work. This pain is one of the most complex and challenging pain syndromes. One of the reasons for this stems from its adherence to most treatments. Another reason is that there is partial information about the mechanism responsible for its development. Animal studies suggest that it is possible to prevent and / or reduce its development or reduce its strength by preventive treatment (given immediately after the injury). Currently, the treatments found to prevent or reduce central pain in animals are anti Inflammation and neuronal excitability suppressors such as interleukin 10. The purpose of this study,is to explore whether pre-treatment with pregabalin prior to the development of the central pain will prevent the incidence of pain or reduce its intensity by improving pain regulation and reducing hypersensitivity. The goal of the pharmacotherapy is to reduce the hypersensitivity- lyrica is used to reduce chronic neuropathic pain by reducing the degree of hypersensitivity in the pain system. the objectives of this study are to examine whether early treatment of central pain can prevent or reduce the incidence of pain by improving pain regulation and reducing hypersensitivity. That is, whether there will be a difference between those who take Lyrica-Pregabalin (a drug that reduces hypersensitivity of pain) compared to placebo. Methods: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in which people with a fresh SCI will receive lyrica or placebo as soon as possible from their arrival at the rehabilitation hospital for 2-3 months during which pain system characteristics will be measured and monitored for central pain development.
The objective of this project is to fully test a newly developed affordable cost variable slip inducer in the ambulatory, incomplete spinal cord population. It is a self-contained device using a moving serial plank mechanism with wheels on the underside of each plank that allow for structured slips while a person walks over the planks with a harness for safety.
Individuals with a spinal cord injury need to exercise regularly to prevent the decline of health that results from a sedentary lifestyle. The purpose of this investigation is to examine the effects of a pre-existing exercise program and respiratory training on measures of health and quality of life in individuals who elect to participate in an existing 8-week supervised exercise program.
Mild intermittent hypoxia (IH) initiates sustained increases in chest wall and upper airway muscle activity in humans. This sustained increase is a form of respiratory plasticity known as long-term facilitation (LTF). Repeated daily exposure to mild IH that leads to the initiation of LTF of upper airway muscle activity could lead to increased stability of the upper airway. In line with PI's laboratory's mandate to develop innovative therapies to treat sleep apnea, this increased stability could ultimately reduce the continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) required to treat obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and improve compliance with this gold standard treatment. Improved compliance could ultimately serve to mitigate those comorbidities linked to sleep apnea. Moreover, in addition to improving CPAP compliance numerous studies indicate that mild IH has many direct beneficial effects on cardiovascular, neurocognitive and metabolic function. Thus, mild IH could serve as a multipronged therapeutic approach to treat sleep apnea. In accordance with this postulation, our proposal will determine if repeated daily exposure to mild IH serves as an adjunct therapy coupled with CPAP to mitigate associated co-morbidities via its direct effects on a variety of cardiovascular, metabolic and neurocognitive measures and indirectly by improving CPAP compliance. Modifications in autonomic (i.e. sympathetic nervous system activity) and cardiovascular (i.e. blood pressure) function will be the primary outcome measures coupled to secondary measures of metabolic and neurocognitive outcomes.
This study will examine the effectiveness of one of two virtual reality treatments on neuropathic pain in individuals with spinal cord injury.
The overall purpose of this pilot randomized control trial (RCT) is to determine the efficacy of the high-intensity interval training (HIIT) exercise protocols for the WheelMill System (WMS) to improve exercise intensity, cardiovascular fitness, metabolic health, and psychological well-being in manual wheelchair users (MWUs) with spinal cord injury (SCI).
Functional electrical stimulation (FES) has been used for decades in rehabilitation centers. Having demonstrated efficacy for prevention of muscle atrophy following spinal cord injury (SCI), FES can also be considered for functional restoration of hand movements in the patients with complete tetraplegia belonging to group 0 or 1 of the classification of Giens. However, the majority of the systems using the FES directly stimulates the muscles (surface electrodes, intramuscular or epimysial), which increases the number of components and requires more electrical energy for the muscle activation. Nerve stimulation would activate more muscles through a reduced number of electrodes, limiting the number of internal components, reduces the risk of spreading infections and require less electrical energy for its operation.