View clinical trials related to Spinal Cord Injuries.
Filter by:The training consists of 6 weeks of functional electrical stimulation leg cycling exercise (FES-LCE) program. The training program comprises of 2 visits per week. Each visit consists of FES-LCE for 45 minutes. Throughout the 6 weeks program, there will be testing/assessment sessions on week 1, week 3 and week 6. The FES will be applied via surface electrodes and the stimulation intensity based on the participant's tolerance level.
Neuroscience research that has identified potential for recovery (neuroplasticity) following incomplete SCI has changed clinical practice away from compensation strategies towards optimizing recovery. Important factors include: repetitive exercise, Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) and appropriate feedback. The iCycle combines repetitive exercise with FES and provides feedback on performance in a virtual cycle race. Unlike previous devices, performance in the race is determined only by voluntary effort (i.e. not torque generated by FES plus voluntary effort). In this study with incomplete SCI participants we will test the iCycle with six inpatients to refine the protocol and make technical improvements. We will then conduct an ABA pilot study (n=10) in which a 3G-connected iCycle is used in people's own homes. We will compare usual care (A) with iCycle exercise (B). Changes in neural connectivity (TMS evoked EMG potentials), muscle strength and walking will be measured as well qualitative analysis of users' views.
Acute intermittent hypoxia (AIH) involves short (~1-2min) bouts of breathing low oxygen air to stimulate spinal neuroplasticity. Studies in rodents and humans indicate that AIH improves motor function after spinal cord injury (SCI). This study will use a double blind, cross-over design to test if the combination of AIH and respiratory strength training improves breathing function more than either approach alone in adults with chronic SCI.
The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of a manualized intervention (FITS) to families living with brain injury or spinal cord injury. The intervention will be provided by a trained neuropsychologist and consists of 8 structured sessions of 90 minutes duration. The intervention group will be compared to a control group receiving treatment as usual, one psycho-educational group session of a 2 hour duration.
Individuals who suffer from paralysis after spinal cord injury (SCI) are estimated to have an even greater (66%) prevalence of obesity. Obesity is a major public health concern and is associated with a plethora of cardiometabolic health complications (heart disease, stroke and type II diabetes mellitus). Although the benefits of physical activity to counteract obesity and cardiometabolic disease have been documented, SCI typically limits voluntary exercise to the often injured arms (60-90%). On the other hand, functional electrical stimulation (FES) cycling has proven to be a safe and effective way to exercise paralyzed leg muscles in clinical and home settings, saving the often overworked arms. The investigators have developed a novel high-intensity interval training (HIIT) protocol for FES lower extremities cycling that may provide equal or greater benefits with less time commitment. The investigators proof-of-principle study in 3 obese persons with SCI confirmed that HIIT-FES cycling 3 times per week for 8 weeks without dietary monitoring can increase legs lean mass (5-9%), increase cardiovascular health markers (58% on average) and decrease HbA1c blood levels (2-4%). Also, 2 persons decreased body weight and BMI. The investigators hypothesize that combining HIIT-FES cycling with nutritional counseling will be effective for reducing obesity and enhancing cardiometabolic health in persons with chronic SCI. Research AIM: To determine preliminary efficacy of HIIT-FES cycling combined with nutritional counseling in obese adults with SCI. In this pilot two-arm, parallel, pre-post, subject-matched controlled trial, we will test the hypothesis that the experimental group receiving HIIT-FES cycling plus nutritional counseling will decrease total body weight, decrease body fat percentage, decrease fat mass, increase total and legs lean mass, improve blood lipid levels, decrease blood glucose and HbA1c levels and improve vascular endothelial health (flow mediated dilation) significantly more than age-, sex- and injury-matched controls receiving nutritional counseling only. The investigators will recruit 20 obese adults, 21-65 years of age, with chronic post-traumatic SCI ranging in neurological level between C4 and T12. Participants will be divided into experimental (HIIT-FES cycling plus nutritional counseling) and control (nutritional counseling only) groups.
The overall purpose of this project is to pilot test a manual wheelchair (MWC) training program based on motor learning theory to improve wheelchair propulsion for manual wheelchair users (MWUs) with spinal cord injury (SCI).
The objective of this study is to develop algorithms that incorporate each individual's automatically detected physical activity (PA) level and a clinician's PA level recommendation to provide a smartphone application that helps a person set safe and highly personalized PA goals. By adapting the goals in real-time based on the person's actual behavior, the system aims to keep the individual feeling positive and motivated towards a change in the PA behavior.
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).
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.
This study will examine the effectiveness of one of two virtual reality treatments on neuropathic pain in individuals with spinal cord injury.