Spinal Cord Stimulation and Training

This is an interventional basic science trial for Spinal Cord Injuries focused on measuring spinal cord injury, spinal cord stimulation, rehabilitation Read More

Inclusion Criteria:

Healthy Volunteers

• Age between 16 and 65 years old
• Healthy people with no major comorbidities of any organ system

Exclusion Criteria:

Healthy Volunteers

• Subjects younger than 16 or older than 65 years old
• Subjects not providing consent or not able to consent
• Subjects with any acute or chronic pain condition
• Subjects with any acute or chronic disease of a major organ system
• Use of analgesics within 24 hours prior to study period
• Use of caffeine with 3 hours of study appointment

Inclusion criteria:

Participants with spinal cord injury (SCI)

• Age between 16-65 years old
• Traumatic SCI C4-T9 level, complete (ASIA A) or incomplete (ASIA B, C or D)
• at least 1 year post injury
• Stable medical condition
• difficulty independently performing leg movements in routine activities
• able to follow simple commands
• able to speak and respond to questions

Exclusion criteria:

Participants with spinal cord injury (SCI)

• Subjects younger than 16 or older than 65 years old
• Not willing or able to provide consent
• Any acute or chronic pain condition
• Any acute or chronic disease of a major organ system
• Use of analgesics within 24 hours prior to study appointment
• Use of caffeine with 3 hours of study appointment
• Presence of tremors, spasms and other significant involuntary movements
• Etiology of SCI other than trauma
• Concomitant neurologic disease traumatic brain injury (TBI) that will significantly impact the ability to follow through on study directions, multiple sclerosis (MS), stroke or peripheral neuropathy)
• History of significant medical illness (cardiovascular disease, uncontrolled diabetes, uncontrolled hypertension, osteoporosis, cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, severe asthma requiring hospitalization for treatment, renal insufficiency requiring dialysis, autonomic dysreflexia, etc).
• Severe joint contractures disabling or restricting lower limb movements.
• Unhealed fracture, contracture, pressure sore, urinary tract infection or other uncontrolled infections, other illnesses that might interfere with lower extremity exercises or testing activities
• Depression, anxiety, or cognitive impairment
• Deficit of visuospatial orientation
• Sitting tolerance less than 1 hour
• Severe hearing or visual deficiency
• Miss more than 3 appointments without notification
• Unable to comply with any of the procedures in the protocol
• Botulinum toxin injection in lower extremity muscles in the prior six months
• Any passive implants (osteosynthesis material, metallic plates or screws) below T9.
• Any implanted stimulator in the body (pacemaker, vagus nerve stimulator, etc.)
• History of alcoholism or another drug abuse
• Pregnancy (or possible pregnancy)
• Having an Intrathecal Baclofen Therapy Pump (ITB pump)
• History of epilepsy