View clinical trials related to SCI.
Filter by:Contusive cervical spinal cord injury (cSCI) impairs upper limb function (reach-and-grasp) which limits daily-life activities and thus decreases the quality of life. Promoting neuroplasticity may support upper limb recovery after SCI. Repetitive exposure to acute intermittent hypoxia (rAIH) combined with motor training promotes recovery of motor function after SCI; however, the overall effects of rAIH/training are limited. The investigators will use an adult rat model of long-term contusive cSCI to study novel approaches to enhance the effect of rAIH/training on forelimb function and study the neuronal substrate underlying the effects. The findings will be used to direct the development of more effective rAIH/training approaches for people with contusive, functionally incomplete, cSCI. Because deficits in upper limb function are a major problem after stroke, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, and other motor disorders, this work may also be relevant for patients with other types of central nervous system (CNS) lesions.
Spinal cord injury (SCI) often results in reduced bowel function and regularity, leading to a decrease in quality of life for those who are affected. Evidence-based research has indicated that, when surveyed, individuals with SCI express a greater reduction in quality of life derived from their bowel routine than able-bodied subjects. In addition, the extent of reduction in quality of life has a direct relationship with the level of Injury. Those with tetraplegia score worse than those with paraplegia and paraplegics score worse than controls. The development of an adequate quality of life questionnaire is needed to effectively identify the impact of bowel care on quality of life in patients with SCI compared to able-bodied controls. The purpose of this study is to determine the discriminatory ability of the survey for various diagnoses such as SCI, CVA, TBI, chronic back pain, radiculopathy from the Rehabilitation Service and able bodied persons.
The present study aims to evaluate the relationship between the level of SCI and the impairment of Colonic transit time (CTT) and Total transit time (TTT) by using the SmartPill device. The SmartPill, an FDA approved device, is a wireless capsule that is ingested and transmits values for GI pH, temperature, and pressure as it travels throughout the digestive system. The SmartPill can also be used to assess CTT and TTT. In comparing values for CTT, TTT, pH, temperature, and pressure in SCI patients to healthy, able-bodied controls, the SmartPill device may provide valuable insight into the pathophysiological implications of SCI on GI function. This information may allow medical professionals to provide more effective plans of care for this population, subsequentially enhancing quality and quantity of life. The SmartPill device may also provide a less invasive alternative to assessing these variables, compared to traditional modalities.
DWE (difficulty with evacuation) is a common and an important quality of life issue after spinal cord injury. Not only is the management DWE time-consuming and unpleasant, but the results are often suboptimal in terms of complications such as incontinence and impaction. Bowel care regimens after spinal cord injury have not changed in any significant fashion in many years. The usual strategies for attaining bowel evacuation involve dietary manipulation (e.g., high fiber diets and hydration), thrice weekly laxative administration (senna and cascara) and thrice weekly anorectal instillation of cathartics (enemas and suppositories). Bowel care can be quite time consuming (greater than 2 hours in many instances) and may also require extensive nursing care. Finally, incomplete evacuation could contribute to fecal incontinence that has significant morbidity in these patients. In preliminary studies performed at the JJPVAMC, IV, IM, and subcutaneous injection of neostigmine combined with glycopyrrolate were demonstrated to be highly effective to promote bowel evacuation in the SCI population. In an effort to provide a more realistic administration of this procedure, we propose to test the intranasal spray injection of neostigmine and glycopyrrolate for safety and efficacy.
The ReWalk enables people with lower limb disabilities to carry out routine ambulatory functions (stand, walk, climb stairs etc.). It can be used by people with disabilities such as spinal cord injury, brain injury, stroke, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy and other severe walking impairments. The device promises to restore the dignity of disabled persons, enabling them to work and improve their general health and quality of life, as well as significantly reduce medical and other related expenses.