Resistance Training to Improve Strength and Functional Trunk Stability in Adults With Paraplegia
Spinal Cord Injuries
About this trial
This is an interventional prevention trial for Spinal Cord Injuries
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: To be included in the study, all subjects must be adults (>18 years of age) and:
- Be in good health (asymptomatic for acute treatable illness)
- Be able to understand, communicate with and be understood by research personnel and interpreters
- Be interested in participating and provide informed consent
- Have a SCI with residual deficits (AIS A, B, C), and from the neurological level of T2 and lower to allow at least partial use of trunk muscles
- Use a wheelchair as primary means of mobility (≥6 hours/day)
Exclusion Criteria: Participants must not be enrolled in any strengthening protocol or rehabilitation therapy for strengthening during the time of the study. Participants must not have serious comorbidities that could interfere with the ability to participate in an exercise program (musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, and neurological [other than SCI]). Specifically, participants will be excluded if they have: 1) Musculoskeletal injuries that have not healed completely, 2) Had heart surgery or are status post-myocardial infarction (MI) in the last 4 to 6 months, 3) Unstable angina, 4) Uncontrolled hypertension (systolic blood pressure ≥160 mm Hg and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥100 mm Hg), 5) uncontrolled dysrhythmias, 6) Recent history of congestive heart failure that has not been evaluated and effectively treated, 7) Severe stenotic or regurgitant valvular disease, or 8) Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
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Sites / Locations
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Other
Resistance Training
. Participants will engage in strengthening exercises using a cable tower while seated. These movements will include trunk flexion and extension, diagonal trunk rotation, and lateral trunk flexion. The goal for resistance training frequency (Weeks 1-8) will be three times per week, lasting about 30-45 minutes per session including warm-up/cool-down. Performance during exercise sessions will be monitored by study staff who will progress the participant to exercises of greater intensity (increasing number of repetitions, sets, or resistance load; on an individual basis over the 8-week intervention period according to the participant's level of readiness). This progression will also be guided by a strength training protocol. Resistance intensity of each exercise will also be determined based on the initial maximal strength performing that exercise