View clinical trials related to Spinal Cord Injuries.
Filter by:This pilot study will evaluate the effects of a placebo anti-inflammatory diet in individuals with spinal cord injury. It is being performed to ensure that the placebo diet does not induce reductions in inflammation and also adequately conceals group allocation.
The aim of the study is to verify validity and reliability of the Muscle excitability scale (MES), which has been developed to access muscle susceptibility to spasms and/or clones as part of spastic motor behavior in spinal cord injured patients.
During typical daily activity, people with established spinal cord injury perform significantly fewer pressure-relief maneuvers than the recommended frequency while overestimating their adherence on recall surveys of pressure relief activity. The rate of pressure ulcer recurrence in individuals with a prior ulcer is 44% in those with surgical repair and as high as 75% in those with non-surgical healing indicating that increased attention to pressure relief is critical for these individuals.This study will evaluate the efficacy of a wheelchair sensor and app-based biofeedback for establishing healthy self-management behaviors (pressure relief maneuvers and daily physical activity). Investigators will enroll 50 participants with paraplegia from spinal cord injury who use a manual wheelchair for mobility and have a history of pressure ulcer that has healed or is six months post-surgical repair. Participants will be randomized into one of two groups: an intervention group that will receive an education intervention and the proposed technology to be used for one year, and a control group that will receive only the education intervention. The primary outcome will be pressure ulcer occurrence over one year. Investigators hypothesize that participants receiving the intervention of biofeedback on their pressure relief activity will have a lower recurrence of pressure ulcer than the education only control group. Secondary outcomes include depressive symptoms, self-efficacy, participation and satisfaction with life. Investigators hypothesize that increasing physical activity will reduce depressive symptoms and improve participation and satisfaction with life.
Muscle weakness is one of the most common and debilitating symptoms following a Spinal Cord Injury (SCI). Strength training is recommended as an effective means to increase muscular strength and improve function for individuals with long term SCI. In contrast, the strength training guidance for those with a recent (<1 year) SCI is lacking. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the feasibility of a method of upper limb strengthening - Progressive Resistance Training (PRT) and its impact upon muscle strength and function.
Depression is more common after a spinal cord injury (SCI) than in the general population. Unfortunately, it is unknown how depression is typically treated in individuals with SCI or if commonly used treatment methods are effective. This study will investigate the safety and impact of a novel method for treating depression called repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS). rTMS is a type of non-invasive brain stimulation. Fourteen individuals with a cervical or thoracic level SCI and depression will complete an approved treatment plan using rTMS. Participants will be treated using rTMS five days a week for four weeks. After four weeks of treatment, the study team will review the safety of rTMS and assess changes in depressive symptoms. If the results are positive, larger studies can be designed to develop better treatment options for individuals with SCI and depression.
This initiative represents development and pilot testing of a circuit training exercise program for persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) to be implemented within a rehabilitation centre. The program will integrate members of the community who are > 18 months post-injury with those currently participating in SCI rehabilitation as inpatient.
Up to 15 able-bodied individuals will participate in one testing session to evaluate the effectiveness of the A-FES system. Up to 20 individuals with SCI will participate in 12 sessions of A-FES therapy. At each session, participants will stand on a force plate (Accu Sway, AMTI, USA) with the A-FES system (Compex Motion II, Compex Motion, Switzerland) donned. The centre of pressure (COP) will be calculated in real time using the force plate data. The calculated COP will be presented to participants on a monitor and they will be instructed to shift their COP in the indicated directions as represented by a cursor (i.e. training with visual feedback). The intensity of electrical stimulation provided by the A-FES system will be regulated by the measured COP in a closed-loop manner. In this study we propose to develop and evaluate the clinically-feasible A-FES system for the training of standing balance.
Neuropathic pain is a common complaint in those with spinal cord injury (SCI) that has a significant negative effect on quality of life. Efficacy of various treatments, however, remains controversial. There is evidence to support that gabapentin and pregabalin have some benefit in reducing neuropathic pain. Gabapentin is effective in the management of symptoms and concerns related to SCI including motor recovery, spasticity, and mood among others. This makes gabapentin an important pharmacologic intervention, which compels providers to define treatment guidelines related to its use. One aspect of which should relate to the timing of initiation of therapy. The goal of this study is to determine whether timing of initiation of treatment with gabapentin will decrease prevalence and intensity of neuropathic pain.
The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of mobility training using the Ekso robotic exoskeleton with functional electrical stimulation (FES) in persons affected by spinal cord injury; designated AIS classification A, B, C, or D. Traditionally, a person with an American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS) "A" injury, walking training is not performed. Even with AIS B, C and D injuries, although walking training may be appropriate, a person may not walk as much as needed to see an improvement due to environmental and staff limitations. The Ekso is a tool to give walking training to patients. The investigators aim to see if utilizing these technologies will affect recovery; specifically in sensation and muscle activity below the level of the injury as well as the ability to walk. The Ekso is a wearable, battery- operated exoskeleton that assists with walking. The Ekso has motors at the hip and knee joints to provide assistance that may be needed with walking. All motion is initiated either through body weight shifts or the use of an external controller. The Ekso robotic exoskeleton has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration as a powered exercise device for rehabilitative purposes such as this study. Currently, the Ekso is approved for people with spinal cord injuries from T4-L5 given bilateral arm strength of 4/5. With injuries from C7-T3, individuals must have AIS classification of D with bilateral arm strength of 4/5. For this study, it is possible that Ekso GT will be used outside of the current FDA approval if the injury level is C7-T3 and the person is classified as an AIS A, B or C injury level. Functional electrical stimulation (FES) will be used in conjunction with the robotic exoskeleton. FES involves using surface electrodes placed on the skin like a sticker over key leg muscles that will be stimulated in the normal walking pattern as a person walks in the device.
The E-TIPS trial will evaluate an evidence-based, telehealth pain self-management intervention compared to standard care (a waitlist) for chronic pain in adults with physical disabilities who are employed. Participants from anywhere in the US will be randomized to either E-TIPS, a cognitive-behavioral pain self-management intervention delivered by telephone, or a waitlist control. Outcomes, including pain interference, will be assessed at baseline, mid-treatment, post-treatment, and 6-month follow up.