Active clinical trials for "Quadriplegia"

Children with Cerebral Palsy and quadriplegia or severe diplegia suffer from highly reduced mobility and consequent constipation. Clinicians frequently recommend standing-frames to exercise the support reaction in this population, sharing the opinion that the upright position may facilitate intestinal transit, although no evidence supports this assumption. The investigators conducted this single-subject research to determine the effects of the standing-frame on the frequency of evacuation in chronically constipated children with CP and quadriplegia. Moreover, the investigators studied its effects on the frequency of induction of evacuation, the characteristics of the stool and the pain suffered by the child due to constipation and/or evacuation.

Purpose: The objective of this study is to assess a newly created decision support intervention (DSI) or decision aid (DA) for people with spinal cord injury (SCI) to learn about and consider upper extremity reconstructive surgery to help them choose a course of treatment that most aligns with their values.

There are over 44,000 persons living with spinal cord injury (SCI) in Canada, who face substantial challenges in maintaining a healthy body composition after injury. As a result, obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease are prevalent in this population. Guidelines indicating that twice weekly 20-minute sessions of exercise (plus resistance training) will increase physical fitness in those with SCI have been recently published. However, no SCI-specific guidelines indicating the volume of exercise to reduce the risk of developing obesity-related diseases exist. Longitudinal studies indicate that a weekly exercise-related energy expenditure of 2000 - 2500 Calories is correlated with the least likelihood of cardiovascular disease in the able-bodied population. There is little information regarding energy expenditure (EE) for activities carried out by persons with SCI, with less available for persons with tetraplegia. Once known, this EE data can be used to develop exercise interventions to determine the volume of voluntary exercise required to reduce obesity and risk factors for diabetes and cardiovascular disease in those living with tetraplegia.

The purpose of this research study is to demonstrate that individuals with upper limb paralysis due to spinal cord injury, brachial plexus injury, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and brain stem stroke can successfully achieve direct brain control of assistive devices using an electrocorticography (ECoG)-based brain computer interface system.

The main aim is to examine the influence of daylight and melatonin on the temporal variations of hemostatic factors with key roles in the hemostatic process and its regulation. Particular emphasis will be on exploring the role of melatonin in hemostasis by comparing subjects with tetraplegia with able-bodied control subjects.

The purpose of this study is to obtain markers of airway inflammation from the exhaled breath condensate (the moisture in exhaled air) for comparison to blood based markers. These markers will be compared in tetraplegic, asthmatic and able-bodied control groups. Additionally, lung function testing will be performed, and the associations between breath condensate and blood markers and pulmonary function explored between groups.

The purpose of this three phase study is to evaluate a Pushrim Activated Power Assist Wheelchair (PAPAW). Phase I will examine whether the steady-state, metabolic energy efficiency for propelling a manual wheelchair with and without the device will be significantly different. In Phase II, wheelchair users will evaluate the PAPAW over activities of daily living course to determine its usability and acceptability and to identify areas for future development. Finally, in phase III, comparison of activities of daily living in the community will be made between the subjects when using their personal wheelchair and a PAPAW.

Functional electrical stimulation (FES) has been used to activate paralysed muscles and restore movement after spinal cord injury and stroke. This technology involves the application of low-level electrical currents to the nerves and muscles to cause muscle contraction where the user's ability to achieve that through voluntary means has been lost. Providing control of muscle contraction in a coordinated way can mean that users are able once again to produce functional movements in otherwise paralysed limbs. Routine clinical use is limited to the prevention of drop foot in the lower limb following stroke and occasional therapeutic use in the hand and shoulder. Systems providing functional reach and grasp, however, have not achieved clinical or commercial success. This project aims to develop methods for personalising assistive technology to restore arm function in people with high-level spinal cord injury. The investigators will use a combination of electrical stimulation to elicit forces in muscles no longer under voluntary control, and mobile arm supports to compensate for insufficient muscle force where necessary. The investigators will use computational models specific to an individual's functional limitations to produce patient-specific interventions. The project will be in three phases: building a model to predict the effects of electrical stimulation on a paralysed arm with arm support, development of methodologies using this model to optimise the arm support and stimulation system, and testing of stimulation controllers designed using this approach.

The ability to maintain normal core body temperature (Tcore = 98.6°F) is impaired in persons with a cervical spinal cord injury (tetraplegia). Despite the known deficits in the ability of persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) to maintain Tcore, and the effects of hypothermia to impair mental function in able-bodied (AB) persons, there has been no work to date addressing these issues in persons with tetraplegia. Primary Aim: To determine if exposure of up to 2 hours to cool temperatures (64°F) causes Tcore to decrease in persons with tetraplegia, and if that decrease is associated with a decrease in cognitive function. Primary Hypotheses: Based on our pilot data: (1) 66% of persons with tetraplegia and none of the matched controls will demonstrate a decline of 1.8°F in Tcore; (2) 80% of persons with tetraplegia and 30% of controls will have a decline of at least one T-score in Stroop Interference scores (a measure of executive function). Secondary Aim: To determine the change in: (1) distal skin temperature, (2) metabolic rate, and (3) thermal sensitivity. Secondary Hypothesis: Persons with tetraplegia will have less of a percent change in average distal skin temperatures and metabolic rate, and report lower thermal sensitivity ratings compared with AB controls. Tertiary Aim: To determine if a 10 mg dose of an approved blood pressure-raising medicine (midodrine hydrochloride) will (1) reduce the decrease in Tcore and (2) prevent or delay the decline in cognitive performance in the group with tetraplegia compared to the exact same procedures performed on the day with no medicine (Visit 1) in that same group. Tertiary Hypothesis: Through administering a one-time dose of midodrine, the medicine-induced decreased blood flow to the skin will lessen the decline in Tcore and prevent or delay the associated decline in cognitive performance compared to the changes in Tcore and cognitive performance during cool temperature exposure without midodrine in the same group with tetraplegia.

To identify means to improve exercise performance in participants with tetraplegia.