View clinical trials related to Spinal Cord Injuries.
Filter by:The purpose of this research study is to learn more about the causes of gastrointestinal dysfunction after spinal cord injury. It has been thought that the microbiome (the community of bacteria in the body) may be one such cause. The study will examine whether changes in the distal gut microbiome are related to gastrointestinal dysfunction in persons with Spinal Cord Injury and Non-Disabled Controls.
The purpose of this study is to test if the newly-developed Dabir alternating pressure (AP) overlay could be beneficial to preventing skin damage during daily activities, such as lying in bed. Specifically, the study is being done to test if the Dabir AP overlay could be used to increase skin tolerance when lying in bed for an extended period of time (40 minutes), including reducing pressure and increasing skin blood flow (amount of blood supply to oxygen and nutrients to skin) as compared to regular operation room (OR) overlay. A total of 20 participants with spinal cord injury will be recruited. Subjects will undergo study procedures including: AP and Control protocols. Skin blood flow and interface pressure will be collected non-invasively (from outside the body) during both protocols. During AP protocols, subject will be asked to lie on side (10 min), on back on AP overlay (40 min), on side (30 min), on back on OR overlay (40 min), and on side (10 min). During Control protocol, subject will be asked to lie on side (10 min), on back on OR overlay (40 min), and on side (10 min). Subject will then proceed to vascular control measures, including: non-invasive skin blood flow and tissue oxygen measurements with mild heating and electrical stimulation. Findings from this study will help us understand the effectiveness of the AP overlay on skin blood flow response during prolonged lying in bed.
The purpose of this study is to determine if mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) derived from the fat tissue can be safely administered into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with spinal cord injury. Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AD-MSCs) have been used in previous research studies at the Mayo Clinic. All subjects enrolled in this study will receive AD-MSC treatment, which is still experimental and is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for large scale use. However, the FDA has allowed the use of this agent in this research study.
Spinal cord injury (SCI) leads to rapid and profound bone loss with large decreases in bone mineral density (BMD) below the level of the lesion. Decreases in BMD of ~2% per month from the lower limbs have been reported and rates of loss are maximal over the first two years. As a consequence, there is an increased risk of fragility fractures particularly of the lower limbs including an increased risk of hip fracture. Lower limb fragility fractures affect up to 35% of patients following SCI. These fractures are associated with considerable morbidity and an increase in mortality. This single centre UK study will determine if it is feasible to carry out a randomised controlled BMD study in the acute SCI patient population. The study will compare the BMD of patients who receive Ekso Therapy (powered exoskeleton device) verse patients who receive usual physiotherapy alone (control group). It will address patient recruitment rates and reasons for withdrawal from the study and highlight any practicality issues with study conduct. It will also provide preliminary data on the effects of Ekso Therapy on BMD, biochemistry and bone turnover markers.
Chronic spinal cord injury (SCI) results in adverse soft tissue body composition changes and an extremely sedentary lifestyle. These abrupt changes often lead to a high prevalence of cardiometabolic diseases, such as impaired glucose tolerance/diabetes mellitus and dyslipidemia, conditions which predispose those with SCI to an increased risk for cardiovascular disease compared to the general population. Due to paralysis and wheel chair dependence, maintaining an adequate level of physical activity to counteract these deleterious metabolic changes presents a unique obstacle because conventional first line interventions are lifestyle modifications (e.g., diet and exercise), which may be difficult to achieve. Recently, a new medication has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration to improve glycemic control in individuals with diabetes mellitus, and it has also been investigated as an off-label treatment to induce weight loss. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists are a class of drugs designed to mimic the endogenous incretin hormones released from the gut in a glucose dependent manner following a meal. The mechanisms of action for this drug class of medications include stimulation of glucose-dependent insulin secretion, inhibiting glucagon release, slowed gastric emptying, and reduction of postprandial glucose excursions following food intake. In addition to improved glycemic control, this class of medications also shows promise for its non-glycemic action of facilitating weight loss. The method of delivery of the GLP-1's is by self-administered injections once daily or once weekly, depending on the severity of the clinical case and therapeutic targets for a specific patient.
This study compares peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) and exercise efficiency in upper-body poling versus arm crank ergometry in trained able-bodied and paraplegic participants.
The investigators have an existing exercise program (N>70) with a unique population of individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) who have been enrolled in Functional Electrical Stimulation - Rowing Training (FES-RT) for at least 6 months. Previous data in the laboratory from this exercise platform has recently showed that respiratory restriction in SCI reduces inspiratory capacity in direct relation to lesion level, and those with high level injuries have the greatest compromise. As a result, the increase in ventilatory requirements with FES training results in an imbalance between ventilatory capacity and greater whole body skeletal muscle demand after FES rowing training. Hence, external ventilatory support could improve the ability to exercise train and hence enhance the adaptations to chronic exercise in high level SCI. If our hypothesis is correct, this indicates that maximal aerobic capacity in these individuals exceeds maximal voluntary ventilation. It will be important to determine however the consistency of this response and at what level of injury it is not observed. In parallel of the study # NCT02865343, the investigators will recruit here a population of subjects who have completed six months of FES-row exercise training across a range of SCI level (C5-T12). Hence, the investigators will be able to determine the consistency of the effect and the dependence of the effect on SCI level. Some of them with level >T3 may also enroll in training effect study with NIV or sham NIV (NCT02865343))
This study aims to assess the feasibility of therapist-caregiver-patient training to use BCI and FES technology with a view to the inexpensive equipment eventually being used for home use by tetraplegic patients as a continuing rehabilitation method for sub-acute patients discharged from hospital.
Does a 4-week stepping training program with or without external feedback clinically change functional ability and reduce risk of fall of ambulatory patients with iSCI? Are there significant differences between 4-weeks stepping training with or without external feedback in ambulatory patients with iSCI?
The purpose of the study is to investigate the effects of a novel therapeutic approach with transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation (tsDCS) to promote functional recovery and spasticity in chronic spinal cord injury (SCI).