Active clinical trials for "Spinal Cord Injuries"

This project aims to evaluate the physiological effects of Midodrine administration during orthostatic challenge in those with high level spinal cord injury. Midodrine has been shown to improve orthostatic symptoms in those with spinal cord injury but the physiological mechanisms influenced have not been identified. The investigators will examine key physiological components influencing orthostatic tolerance. The investigators will do this, by measuring the baroreflex, and brain blood flow autoregulation (the ability to maintain brain blood flow) before during and after the sit-up test. Two sit-up tests will occur; one before Midodrine administration, and one after administration of a 10mg dose of Midodrine.

The purpose of this research study is to further develop and refine the Transfer Assessment Instrument (TAI). The TAI is a clinical tool to be used by therapists to evaluate transfer techniques and performance.

The purpose of the study is to find out if the use of the drug Riluzole is both safe and improves outcome in patients with acute traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI).

Iron overload is a life-threatening condition that can lead to liver disease, cardiac disease, diabetes and arthritis. Simultaneous supplementation with both iron and AA may place individuals with SCI at risk for iron overload as well as oxidative damage by iron-generated free radicals. Both conditions of high and low iron stores may present with common signs and symptoms. Accurate diagnosis of iron disorder should consider CRP, hematocrit, hemoglobin, serum iron, TIBC, percent saturation of iron binding capacity, serum ferritin and hepcidin. The investigators are proposing a study to determine the effect of concurrent AA and iron supplementation on iron status of individuals with SCI. The investigators goal is to identify abnormal status that may be attributed to simultaneous supplementation of iron and AA to develop future supplementation protocols in this population for optimal iron status.

As people with spinal cord injuries (SCI) get older they become more likely to develop health problems, just like everyone else. However, SCI increases the risk of certain problems. This research project will focus on the control of blood sugar after SCI. Sugar in the blood is the important source of energy for the body. Too much sugar in the blood is known as hyperglycemia and not enough sugar in the blood is known as hypoglycemia. Under healthy conditions, the amount of sugar in the blood is automatically regulated so that a steady level is maintained. After SCI, however, this automatic regulation is damaged. The likelihood of experiencing too much or too little blood sugar is increased. Over time, having too much blood sugar can lead to the development of diabetes. In just the opposite situation, individuals with SCI can begin to experience more frequent episodes of too little blood sugar. It is thought that the level of SCI, amount of time post-injury, and amount of body fat are important factors in the development of hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia. This study will test 2 of those factors, level of SCI and amount of body fat. A total of 35 subjects will be enrolled, 24 with SCI and 11 able-bodied controls. All procedures will be performed at the university's clinical research center. Susceptibility to hyperglycemia will be tested by having each subject drink a sugar water solution and then taking blood samples every 30 minutes for 2 hours. Hypoglycemia will be tested by very carefully inducing low blood sugar, taking blood samples over a 2 hour time period to evaluate different chemicals, and answering a questionnaire about different symptoms experienced during the procedure. Body fat will be measured by having a special kind of x-ray. It is predicted that subjects with cervical injuries and with more body fat will be at the greatest risk of experiencing hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia. The results from this study will provide important information for future studies aimed at examining the effect of exercise and other potentially therapeutic agents on blood sugar regulation in the aging SCI population.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether full-time high dose prophylactic bracing (23 hours or more per day) is more effective than low dose bracing (12 hours or less per day) in preventing or delaying spinal curve progression in children with scoliosis after spinal cord injury.

The purpose of this study is to demonstrate high definition non-invasive neuromuscular stimulation of an upper extremity in tetraplegic participants.

This study investigates the burden of intermittent catheterization in adult individuals with neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction (NLUTD) following spinal cord injury (SCI). Individuals will be recruited to compare two types of catheters. Each participant will use a non-hydrophilic catheter at one time point and a hydrophilic catheter at a different time point to perform intermittent catheterization. The order that participants use either a non-hydrophilic or a hydrophilic catheter will be determined randomly. The purpose of the study is to provide evidence for time spent on bladder management (performing intermittent catheterization) as well as consumer satisfaction on using both catheters.

The aim of the pilot study is to gain first insights into the interaction of transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation with the altered activity of intraspinal circuits associated with spinal spasticity. The main goal is to evaluate the validity of the chosen measures and to generate a data base for statistical planning of a subsequent clinical study.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether a three times per week, 2 month robotic assisted treadmill gait training program, will beneficially affect the fitness, physical and psychological well-being, and the vascular and metabolic cardiovascular risk factors in individuals with complete motor Spinal Cord Injury (SCI).