View clinical trials related to Spinal Cord Injury.
Filter by:We propose to test an evidence-based wheelchair skills training program to optimize wheelchair safety and performance in veterans with SCI. The proposed training program incorporates emerging evidence on wheelchair biomechanics and motor-skills learning, and addresses recommendations in a new clinical practice guideline. Given the difficulty in translating wheelchair skills learned in a therapy clinic with "real world" problems in the home and community post-discharge, we are proposing to conduct the wheelchair skills training in and around the veteran's home. The immediate goal is to enhance ability, performance time, safety, community participation, and quality of life, while minimizing physical strain. The ultimate goal is to reduce morbidity/mortality associated with wheelchair use and promote successful aging with a disability.
Specific Aim: to implement and evaluate a research protocol for demonstrating the efficacy of Acupuncture Therapy to improve neurological recovery after incomplete SCI compared to a control protocol. Hypothesis: acupuncture treatment results in greater neurological recovery than a control treatment after an incomplete SCI. Before conducting a larger, more definitive study, this exploratory and developmental work is focused on assessing whether blinding is possible, reproducibility of the outcome measure, determine enrollment rates and effect sizes and identify clinical resources needed to conduct a larger study.
With upright postures, there is an immediate redistribution of blood to the dependent circulation; venous return and central venous filling pressure are reduced, resulting in diminution of cardiac output and blood pressure. These hemodynamic alterations stimulate the baroreceptor reflex, which is mediated via the central nervous system to increase peripheral sympathetic vasomotor tone, restoring blood pressure and cardiac output within seconds-to-minutes of the assumption of the upright position. Following SCI, individuals often experience the inability to adjust to postural changes due to disruption of central command of the baroreceptor reflex and reduction in efferent sympathetic neural pathways; consequently, orthostatic hypotension (OH) and symptoms of cerebral hypo-perfusion may ensue. OH is a well-documented phenomenon, which is characterized by a fall in systolic blood pressure of >20 mmHg or diastolic BP of > 10 mmHg within 3 minutes of assumption of an upright posture. As a consequence of OH, many individuals experience symptoms of cerebral hypo-perfusion which include lightheadedness, dizziness, blurry vision, fatigue, nausea, ringing in the ears, cognitive impairment and heart palpitations. Although several investigators have reported increased prevalence of OH during the acute phase of spinal cord injury (SCI), individuals with chronic injury also experience significant falls in blood pressure with seated upright postures. This investigation will examine the effects of an alpha-agonist, midodrine hydrochloride, during head-up tilt on systemic blood pressure, cerebral blood flow and cerebral oxygenation compared to placebo administration in persons with chronic SCI who demonstrate significant orthostatic hypotension during a 24-hour observation study. This is the first study to determine the dose response and efficacy of midodrine to improve orthostatic blood pressure and cerebral blood flow and oxygenation in the SCI population.
The study will compare outcomes between individuals with sub-acute, ventilator-dependent tetraplegia using high (20 cc/kg) vs. low (10 cc/kg) tidal volumes during mechanical ventilator support.
The purpose of this study is to test the effectiveness of newly designed ergonomic manual wheelchair handrims called the Natural-Fit and PalmRim when compared to a new standard handrim. It is our hope that the new design of the handrims will help reduce upper extremity pain and injury, which is very common among manual wheelchair users. The Natural-Fit handrim was designed to directly address the shortcomings of standard handrims and to improve the standard-round tube handrims which were designed over 50 years ago. The PalmRim was designed for individuals who have limited hand function, making it difficult to grasp standard handrims.
Electrical stimulation (pulses of electricity applied over the skin of your wrist) and activity-based hand exercise have been shown to improve motor skill and strength in individuals with stroke and have recently been shown to also have an effect on individuals with spinal cord injury. Therefore, the purpose of this research study is to investigate whether electrical stimulation alone or electrical stimulation followed by activity-based training produces gains in pinch strength (how hard you can squeeze your thumb and pointer finger together) and upper extremity function (how well your arm and hand can perform activities) in individuals with spinal cord injury.
This proposal investigates the hypothesis that progressive aerobic exercise with Lokomat is feasible in people with motor incomplete spinal cord injury, and three months of training will improve cardiovascular fitness and gait functionality when compared to physical therapy controls
To assess the level of improvement in voiding function after lumbar to sacral ventral nerve re-routing procedure in Spinal Cord Injury and spina bifida patients
The purpose of the research is to determine whether we can get harmless bacteria to live in the bladders of persons with spinal cord injury who practice intermittent bladder catheterization. We will also look at whether having the harmless bacteria in the bladder prevents urinary tract infections from occurring.
The investigators want to know if placing a tube through the skin and into the colon to flush out the colon is safe and effective in helping spinal cord Veterans with bowel management.