Active clinical trials for "Spinal Cord Injuries"

Does the utility of external feedback in terms of goal-directed LLL approach during STS training immediately improve functional ability relating to walking in ambulatory patients with SCI? Does the utility of LLL feedback improve functional ability relating to walking in ambulatory patients with SCI after 2-week training?

People with central nervous system disorders such as spinal cord injury, stroke, cerebral palsy, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, etc… often have impaired lower extremity function that limits activities of daily life and independence. Different body-weight support systems have been developed to facilitate the rehabilitation process by compensating for the user's residual abilities. However, studies on weight-supported gait training on a treadmill have failed to show superiority over conventional rehabilitation programs for spinal cord injury and stroke. A recent study by the group around Grégoire Courtine showed that body-weight support systems that provide assistance only in the vertical direction disrupt the production of gait and balance, suggesting that current practices may even be detrimental for relearning to walk. For the past year, the Clinique Romande de Réadaptation (CRR) worked together with the G-Lab at EPFL and G-Therapeutics on a new robot platform specifically developed to provide adjustable trunk support along four independent degrees of freedom (LEAP). The investigators were able to draw on their long-term experience, which consists of different body weight support training systems for stroke and spinal cord injury. This knowledge, combined with the input of our therapists and physicians and the specific requirements for people with neurological/musculoskeletal disorders, has resulted in a design that can provide adjustable bodyweight support during over-ground locomotion, treadmill, stairs training, standing up and sitting down and for support during the training of activities of daily living. The scope of this study is to examine how well the robot can be used for rehabilitation therapy in everyday clinical practice. This includes, among other things, technical aspects such as the handling of the hardware, the adaptability of the robot to the patient, and the safety during operation (such as the fall prevention). Various patient-specific aspects will also be evaluated e.g. comfort, positioning, or motivation of the patient. This study also aims to evaluate the software with the various support modes, operating options, and the user interface of the LEAP.

Researchers are trying to evaluate and recommend sustainable and effective health and wellness programs for people with spinal cord injury (SCI) and other physical disabilities.

Most spinal cord injuries are anatomically incomplete - some nerve circuits remain intact, even if the individual cannot feel or control them. Activating spared nerve circuits may improve functional recovery. With this goal, the Investigators have developed a form of electrical stimulation over the cervical spinal cord that can activate muscles in both hands simultaneously and comfortably. This technique, called cervical electrical stimulation (CES), works at the skin surface - no surgery or other invasive procedures are required. The long-term goal is to use CES to strengthen residual circuits to hand muscles after SCI. Regaining control over hand function represents the top priority for individuals with cervical SCI. In the current study, the Investigators first need to better understand how CES works. In the first half of this study, the Investigators will take a systematic approach to determining how CES interacts with other circuits in the spinal cord and the brain. In the second half of the study, the Investigators will test combinations of CES with active hand and wrist movements to find ways to enhance physical movement with CES. These experiments will improve understanding of electrical stimulation in SCI, and may set the table for future treatments to prolong any short-term benefits observed in this study.

In this study, 6 volunteer participants with chronic spinal cord injury will be invited to use an autonomous hand exoskeleton device controlled by a brain/neural-computer interaction (BNCI) system fusing electroencephalography (EEG) and electrooculography (EOG) to detect the intention of the user to grasp objects of daily life. The BNCI system consists of a lightweight hand exoskeleton connected to portable motors, rechargeable batteries and a computerized control system integrated into a wheelchair. Before, during and after use of the BNCI system the volunteers will perform standardized assessments and complete questionnaires to assess the functional and psychological effects of the exoskeleton. Functional outcomes primarily focus on motor function in performing daily life actions while psychological outcomes primarily focus on safety, reliability as well as predisposition and perceptions of disability.

The purpose of this study is to: Measure the pressure in the spinal fluid surrounding the spinal cord to find out how well the spinal cord is being supplied with blood. Determine how drugs called "vasopressors", which are used to control blood pressure following SCI (spinal cord injury), influence spinal fluid pressure. Characterize the severity of an SCI using the levels of specific proteins found within the spinal fluid. Predict how much neurologic recovery may be regained using the levels of specific proteins within your spinal fluid. Identify proteins within the spinal fluid that will help us learn more about what is happening after SCI and assist us in developing new treatments for SCI.

The current study will implement and evaluate a multi-component, psychoeducational intervention for caregivers of children with spinal cord injury (SCI) ages 7-12. Two hypotheses will be tested. First, caregivers who participate in the intervention group will demonstrate better outcomes than caregivers in the control group. Second, children with SCI whose caregivers participate in the intervention group will demonstrate better outcomes than children with SCI whose caregivers participate in the control group.

ReWalk suit developed by Argo Medical Technologies is designed to enable people with lower limb disabilities to carry out routine ambulatory functions (stand, walk etc.); it can be used by people with disabilities such as spinal cord injury, brain injury, stroke, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy and other pathologies that produce severe walking impairments.

The purpose of this pilot study is to investigate whether gait specific robotic supported bodyweight supported treadmill training and lower extremity strength training have similar beneficial effects on walking function and other outcomes.

Measurements of peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) during passive leg cycling (PLC) combined with arm crank ergometry (ACE), leg vascular occlusion (100mmHg above systolic BP) combined with ACE, and FES isometric contractions combined with ACE in spinal cord injured (SCI). All the above mentioned parameters will be compared to Functional Electrical Stimulated (FES) lower extremity cycling combined with ACE (FEShybrid). The hypothesis is that VO2peak is significantly higher during FES hybrid cycling when compared to peak and submaximal PLC, leg vascular occlusion and ACE. But the values for VO2peak during FES isometric contractions combined with ACE is not significantly different from FES hybrid cycling. Comparison of sub-maximal and peak VO2 values during arm crank (ACE) and wheelchair ergometry (WCE) in persons with spinal cord injury. The hypothesis is that wheelchair propulsion due to higher energy expenditure show higher work output and VO2peak than ACE. Does 6 weeks of maximal strength training improve SCI subjects performance during WCE? WCE after 6 weeks maximal strength training is less strenuous owing to better work economy/ efficiency. Effect from aerobic high intensity hybrid training on stroke volume (SV) and VO2peak in spinal cord injured men. 8 weeks of high intensity 4 times 4 interval training at 85-90% of peak heart rate during hybrid cycling. Hypothesis; VO2peak and SV will be significantly increased from training.