View clinical trials related to Spinal Cord Injuries.
Filter by:A study to compare electrophysiologic activity of epidural stimulation and dorsal root ganglion stimulation, as well as quantify changes in motor performance with both types of stimulation over the course of 10 rehabilitation sessions.
Spinal cord injury (SCI) disrupts many aspects of life, including the loss of volitional movement and involuntary control of bodily functions; both crucial functional recovery priorities for this population. Mobility impairments and secondary complications limit an individual's ability to exercise, a behavior known to have wide-ranging functional and health benefits. This trial will investigate whether activity-based therapy (ABT), using body-weight-supported treadmill training (BWSTT), can change the strength of signals from the brain that control volitional movement, leading to improvements in seated balance as well as other important involuntary bodily (i.e. cardiovascular, urinary tract, bowel and sexual) functions. The investigators aim to determine whether these improvements can be augmented with the addition of non-invasive transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (TSCS). This therapy has been shown to re-awaken dormant spinal circuits. In this randomized controlled trial, TSCS with ABT, using BWSTT (three sessions/week for twelve weeks), will be compared to ABT+SHAM in individuals with chronic motor-complete spinal cord injury (SCI). Those in the ABT+SHAM group will be given the option to complete an ABT+TSCS open-label follow-up. Before and after training, the following outcomes will be assessed by validated methods: corticospinal excitability, motor function, and seated balance (Hypothesis 1 - Motor Function); severity and frequency of blood pressure instability, urinary tract, bowel, and sexual dysfunctions (Hypothesis 2 - Autonomic Functions); and general health (Hypothesis 3 - Quality of Life). This collaborative project is between consumers with SCI and clinicians/scientists with expertise in SCI care (kinesiologists, physiotherapists, physiatrists, sexual health clinicians). Compared to ABT alone, the investigators anticipate that ABT+TSCS will result in superior improvements in motor and autonomic functions in individuals with SCI.
The UAB Institute for Arts In Medicine (AIM) is currently implementing an expressive emotional writing pilot project for adults with paralysis caused by neurological conditions such as traumatic head or spinal cord injury.
PROMPT-SCI (Protocol for Rapid Onset of Mobilization in Patients with Traumatic SCI) is a single-site single-arm proof-of-concept trial. Forty-five patients aged 18 years or older who have sustained a severe traumatic SCI (American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale grade A, B or C) from C0 to L1 and undergoing spinal surgery within 48 hours of the injury will be included. Participants will receive daily 30-minute sessions of in-bed leg cycling for 14 consecutive days, initiated within 48 hours after spinal surgery. The feasibility outcomes consist of the 1) absence of serious adverse events associated with cycling sessions, 2) completion of at least 1 full session within 48 hours after spinal surgery for at least 90% of participants, and 3) completion of at least 11 sessions for at least 80% of participants. Patient outcomes 6 weeks and 6 months after injury will be measured from neurofunctional assessments, quality of life questionnaires and inpatient length of stay. Feasibility and patient outcomes will be analysed with descriptive statistics. Patient outcomes will also be compared to a matched historical cohort not receiving in-bed cycling.
The purpose of this study is to compare the efficacy and safety of intravenous (IV) infusions of MT-3921 to placebo in subjects with acute traumatic cervical spinal cord injury. Subjects meeting eligibility criteria will enter the 6-month double-blind period. Subjects will be randomized in a 2:1 ratio to receive MT-3921 or placebo in a double blind manner.
Spasticity has been defined as a disorder of the sensorimotor system characterized by a velocity-dependent increase in tonic stretch reflexes (muscle tone) with exaggerated tendon jerks, resulting from hyperexcitability of the stretch reflex. The treatment goal of spasticity is Medical treatment generally combines physiotherapy with medications, depending on spasticity distribution. Systemic treatments such as oral or intrathecal baclofen are generally considered in case of generalized spasticity, whereas local treatments are considered in case of focal spasticity. Local treatments such as Botulinum Toxin type A, phenol, and alcohol present several advantages, allowing to treat of selected muscles without the risk of sedation. As stated above, they are indicated for focal spasticity but might be helpful even in the presence of generalized spasticity with identified focal goals (Bethoux et al., 2015). In particular, Botulinum Toxin type A (BoNT-A) is considered the gold standard treatment for focal spasticity, showing a level A evidence for spasticity reduction in upper- and lower-limb spasticity (Simpson et al., 2016). However, current evidence is mainly focused on post-stroke spasticity (Franceschini et al., 2014), whereas it is still limited in spasticity as a consequence of other aetiologies, such as spinal cord injury (SCI), traumatic brain injury (TBI), or multiple sclerosis (MS). Interestingly, spasticity is a major concern for the rehabilitation of these patients. The aim of this observational study is the evaluation of the clinical efficacy of BoNT-A in spasticity reduction in patients affected by neurological conditions different from post-stroke spasticity, such as SCI, TBI, and MS.
People with spinal cord injuries (SCI) are particularly prone to complications from excessive sitting, because many are not able to stand without support. Excessive sitting after SCI is believed to contribute to pressure injuries, pain, osteoporosis, joint stiffness, spasticity, and worsening bowel and bladder function. The VA has developed, patented, and licensed a mobile manual standing wheelchair (MMSW), and the investigators believe the key feature of being able to wheel around while in a standing position will dramatically change how paralyzed Veterans function in their home and community. If this expanded utility is realized, persons with SCI may naturally spend more time standing and less time sitting. To test these ideas, Veterans with SCI will be randomized to using one of two manual standing wheelchairs at home and in the community for two months.
People with spinal cord injury (SCI), stroke and other neurodegenerative disorders can follow two pathways for regaining independence and quality of life. One is through clinical interventions, including therapeutic exercises. The other is provided by assistive technologies, such as wheelchairs or robotic systems. In this study, we combine these two paths within a single framework by developing a new generation of body-machine interfaces (BoMI) supporting both assistive and rehabilitative goals. In particular, we focus on the recovery of muscle control by including a combination of motion and muscle activity signals in the operation of the BoMI.
Periodic Limb Movements during Sleep (PLMs) are episodes of repetitive, stereotypical, hallux or foot movements. They could induce sleep disturbance, fatigue, daytime sleepiness and impaired quality of life but also increased cardiovascular risk by rising heart rate and blood pressure at night. Gold standard for PLMs diagnosis is based on electromyographic recording of tibialis anterior muscle during full night polysomnography (PSG). PLMs prevalence is higher in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) possibly due to a loss of encephalic inhibition on a spinal motion generator. In these patients, PLMs can also be wrongly considered as spasms sometimes leading to the unjustified implantation of an intrathecal Lioresal pump. In the general population, drug treatments for PLMs, particularly dopamine agonists, limit the impact of these abnormal movements on sleep fragmentation, daytime alertness and quality of life. Underdiagnosed PLMs in SCI patients can lead to exacerbate cognitive, mood and painful disorders due to the close interaction between sleep disorders and neurocognitive, psychological and painful manifestations. PLMs appropriate diagnosis appeared mandatory in those patients but accessibility and delayed availability remain challenging. In addition, sleep laboratories are often unable to accommodate with SCI patients. In this context, actigraphy, an easy-to-use, cheaper and easily renewable diagnostic tool would be interesting. In the general population, sensitivity to diagnose PLMs was between 0.79 and 1 and specificity between 0.6 and 0.83. Due to lower limbs impairment, increased specificity is expected SCI patients (decrease voluntary activity). The new generation of actigraph (MotionWatchR) could have better characteristics thanks to the development of a specific software which integrate both lower limbs in the same analysis. As primary objective, this prospective monocentric study aims to evaluate the performances of lower limbs actigraphy for PLMs diagnosis versus gold standard.
Recent findings have demonstrated that electrical stimulation to the spinal cord (i.e. implanted electrodes) can significantly recover bladder, bowel, and sexual function after injury. While promising, a major drawback is that individuals must undergo a highly invasive and expensive surgical procedure to implant the stimulator on top of the spinal cord. Moreover, the inability to re-position the implanted stimulator considerably limits the flexibility of this procedure. In this project, the investigators propose a comprehensive clinical study examining the effects of TCSCS in promoting recovery of these crucial functions in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). This non-invasive therapeutic modality uses electrodes applied over the skin to deliver electrical stimulation. It is based on the same principles of ground-breaking work from the investigator's group and others, showing that stimulation of the spinal cord can promote motor and autonomic (cardiovascular, bladder, bowel) recovery in individuals with chronic SCI.