Spinal Cord Injuries Clinical Trials

Over the past ten years, the Cardiovascular Research Laboratory at Spaulding has refined a unique form of exercise for those with spinal cord injuries (SCI). Functional Electrical Stimulation Row Training (FESRT) couples volitional arm and electrically controlled leg exercise, resulting in the benefits of large muscle mass exercise. However, despite the potential for enhancing aerobic capacity by training the denervated leg skeletal muscle via hybrid FES exercise, the inability to increase ventilation beyond limits set by high level SCI restricts aerobic capacity. This research study will investigate two potential methods of improving ventilation in those with high-level SCI through a double-blind randomized trial. One method is non-invasive ventilation (NIV), which is an external breathing support machine. The second method is the use of Buspar, a drug, which has been used to treat respiratory dysfunction after SCI in rats and some human case reports. In this study, participants will engage in a 6-month FES row training program while receiving either NIV or shamNIV and Buspar or placebo, and under study tests to evaluate cardiopulmonary health and fitness. Read Less

Growing evidence indicates that electrical spinal cord stimulation improves motor functions both immediately and over the long term via modulating the excitability of spinal circuitry in patients with spinal cord injury. Recently, a novel, non-invasive, well-tolerated, and painless lumbosacral transcutaneous electrical stimulation strategy was demonstrated to be effective in improving lower limb motor function in participants with spinal cord injury. Our current project, cervical transcutaneous electrical stimulation and intensive exercise for arms and hands are also revealing a significant improvement in upper extremity function. Additionally, the subject and caregiver noted that stair climbing ability has been substantially enhanced starting from the first week of cervical stimulation treatment and continues to date. This study is a prospective efficacy trial of combined transcutaneous cervical and lumbosacral electrical stimulation with intensive physical therapy for improving locomotion in people with incomplete tetraplegia and paraplegia. This experiment design consists of two to four-phase intervention programs, including one-month physical therapy only followed by one-month spinal stimulation combined with physical therapy. Between each intervention, washout periods of up to one month may be used to determine any after-effects of the interventions. The intervention arms will be repeated if the functional improvement does not reach a plateau during the first two months of interventions. Sessions will last up to 2 hours/day, 2 to 5 days/week for each arm. Both immediate and lasting improvements in lower extremity function and autonomic function via transcutaneous spinal stimulation and intensive physical therapy will be evaluated. Read Less

The use of the conditioning open-label placebo (COLP) paradigm will be studied as a dose extension method to lower opioid dosage in patients with spinal cord injury, polytrauma, and burn injury. The goal is to provide the same level of pain relief with a reduced opioid intake to diminish side effects as well as the risk of addiction associated with opioid treatment. Read Less

This is a single blind, sham controlled crossover trial that will evaluate the effectiveness of acute intermittent hypoxia therapy (AIH) combined with transcutaneous (non-invasive) spinal cord stimulation on gait and balance function for individuals after spinal cord injury. Read Less

This is a research study to evaluate the safety, efficacy and feasibility of high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (HF-rTMS) in patients with subacute spinal cord injury. Read Less

Rotator cuff disease (i.e., rotator cuff tendinopathy or tear) is a common cause of shoulder pain in persons with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI). It usually resolves with non-operative treatments such as pharmacological agents and physical therapy; however, when this fails, rotator cuff surgery may be the only option. Corticosteroid injections are another alternative to provide temporary relief, but can over time accelerate degeneration of the tendon and lead to further damage. Autologous adipose tissue injection has recently emerged as a promising new treatment for joint pain and soft tissue injury. Adipose can be used to provide cushioning and filling of structural defects and has been shown to have an abundance of bioactive elements and regenerative perivascular cells (pericytes). The purpose of this study is to explore the efficacy of autologous, micro-fragmented adipose tissue (Lipogems®) injection under ultrasound guidance for chronic shoulder pain in persons with SCI compared with the standard-of-care, corticosteroid injection. Read Less

Our goal is to enhance repeated exposure to acute intermittent hypoxia (rAIH)/training-induced aftereffects on upper and lower limb function recovery in humans with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI). Read Less

Very often, people who have a SCI have difficulty doing things with their arms or hands as a result of muscle stiffness , or spasticity. Spastacity can cause problems performing even the simplest of everyday tasks. This research will help us understand how the body recovers and changes neurologically after SCI. Read Less

This study will examine the use brief prolonged exposure (Brief PE) therapy compared to standard clinical care to reduce posttraumatic distress among people who have had a spinal cord injury and are receiving rehabilitation in an inpatient setting. Read Less

Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) remains as one of the effective rehabilitation modalities for addressing recovery of neuromuscular function after a spinal cord injury (SCI). To achieve optimal effects, the NMES interventions that involve or promote voluntary efforts from SCI participants are preferred. However, these interventions are limited by the fact that the active monitoring of voluntary effort, particularly at the stimulated muscle level is unattainable. The objective of the proposed study is to develop SMARTq (Stimulated Muscle Assessment in Real-Time). This novel system will provide a quasi real-time assessment of intrinsic neuromuscular responses of a stimulated muscle during NMES. Specifically, the proposed system will consist of our novel algorithms interfaced with the EMG data acquisition hardware to process the EMG data recorded from a stimulated muscle in real-time during NMES. The term 'quasi' is used to account for the processing delay of approximately 1 to 2 seconds that may potentially occur. The proposed system will be developed and validated using the data collected from the able-bodied (AB) as well as individuals with incomplete SCI (iSCI). The applicability of the system will be evaluated on individuals with complete SCI (cSCI). Our central hypothesis is that the real-time tracking of neuromuscular responses during a train of NMES will provide valuable information on inherent neuromuscular changes, volitional participation, and neuromuscular recovery. The significance of the proposed study is that, if successful, it will deliver a highly novel system which can allow researchers and clinicians to - 1) evaluate the direct electrophysiological effects of varied combination of NMES on a stimulated muscle in real-time; 2) quantify, track and manipulate the levels of voluntary efforts or volitional drive 'on-fly' during NMES for extracting optimal benefits; 3) track the neuromuscular recovery of the stimulated muscle, particularly for cSCI populations, when any functional changes have not been observed yet; and 4) directly observe the neuromuscular fatigue derived from the electrophysiological data at the stimulated muscle. These are highly significant opportunities that can allow the clinicians and researchers to transform the current as well as future NMES interventions into highly effective training modalities as each intervention will be operated at an individual's neuromuscular level. Read Less

The purpose of this research study is to compare the effect of two different types of education and support programs for partner caregivers of people with spinal cord injury (SCI). Read Less

INTRODUCTION: Due to the low incidence of pediatric spinal cord injury (SCI) and the high demand for knowledge and research, international cooperation is needed to build a solid and shared understanding of the extent of the problem, and also uniformity in treatment and measurement methods. The aim of the study is to map organization of care and rehabilitation of children and adolescents < 18 years of age with SCI, to explore qualitatively psychosocial aspects of individuals and to establish use of common outcome measures in 10 rehabilitation units from seven countries, cooperating within the Sunnaas International Network in Rehabilitation (SIN); China, USA, Russia, Israel, Palestine, Norway and Sweden. METHOD: In Phase I two cross-sectional studies will be conducted to set the scene for the outcome studies following in Phase II (2020-2022). Phase I consists of a quantitative descriptive study using a websurvey to describe and compare the systems of care and delivery of inpatient rehabilitation services for pediatric SCI patients. In addition, a qualitative study will explore the psychosocial aspects of living with a childhood acquired SCI. Two adolescents, aged 13-17 years and at least 6 months post-acute treatment, from each unit will interviewed using a semi-structured interview guide. Ethical approval has been applied for in each unit, and the study is registered at ClinicalTrial-gov. A workshop for the 24 study team members, where the main focus was to ensure that data collection is conducted in a good manner, was held in May 2018, and data collection is expected finalized by 2020. Phase II (planning stage) will consist of methodological outcome studies. DISCUSSION: Phase I of the study will broaden the body of knowledge on pediatric SCI internationally, thus enabling comparison, discussion and development of organizational models and quality of care and rehabilitation for young persons with SCI. Phase II will contribute to the use of common and reliable outcome measures for these patients. Read Less