Active clinical trials for "Spinal Cord Injuries"

The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of penile vibratory stimulation on the muscle spasticity of men with chronic spinal cord injury.

The purpose of this proposal was to evaluate and compare the health benefits of using upper extremity exercise versus functional electrical stimulation for lower extremity exercise. It was our hypothesis that both Functional Electrical Stimulation Leg Cycle Ergometry (FES LCE) exercise and voluntary Arm Crank Ergometry (ACE) upper extremity exercise would increase whole body energy expenditure, thereby increasing muscle mass, insulin sensitivity, glucose effectiveness and improving lipid profiles in adults with paraplegia.

The overall objective of this project is to test the efficacy of an innovative multi-component intervention aimed at reducing the risk for adverse health outcomes among caregivers of older survivors with spinal cord injury or disability, and to improve the well being of the spinal cord-injured survivor. In a three-group, randomized, controlled design providing access to information, resources, and support, we predict that the dual target approach will have a greater positive impact on both the caregiver and survivor than the caregiver-only approach, and that both active treatments will be superior with respect to caregiver outcomes than an information-only control condition.

The purpose of this study is to find out if risedronate works for the treatment of osteoporosis for people with spinal cord injury.

Pressure ulcers are a serious, costly, and life-long complication of spinal cord injury (SCI). Pressure ulcer prevalence has been estimated at between 17 and 33% among persons with SCI residing in the community. Epidemiological studies have found that 36-50% of all persons with SCI who develop pressure ulcers will develop a recurrence within the first year after initial healing (Carlson et al., 1992; Fuhrer et al., 1993; Goldstein, 1998; Niazi et al., 1997; Salzberg et al. 1998). Recurrence rates have ranged from 21% to 79%, regardless of treatment (Schryvers et al., 2000; Goodman et al., 1999; Niazi et al., 1997). Pressure ulcer treatment is expensive. Surgical costs associated with pressure ulcer treatment can exceed $70,000 per case (Braun et al., 1992). VA administrative (National Patient Care Database, NPCD) data indicate that 41% of inpatient days in the SCI population are accounted for by either primary or secondary diagnoses of pressure ulcers or 23% of SCI inpatient days if restricted to primary diagnoses of pressure ulcers. Pressure ulcer recurrence has been associated with many factors including previous pressure ulcer surgery (Niazi et al., 1997). Although little data exist describing the factors associated with recurrence following surgery, some investigators reported recurrence rates of 11%-29% in cases with post-operative complications and 6% to 61% in cases without post-operative complications (Mandrekas & Mastorakos, 1992; Relander & Palmer, 1988; Disa et al., 1992). In a retrospective study of 48 veterans with SCI, investigators reported a 79% recurrence rate following surgery (Goodman et al., 1999).

Persons with disabilities (PwD) commonly experience fatigue, which often negatively impacts their everyday lives. Management of this symptom can be challenging. Satisfaction with current interventions to manage fatigue is low among PwD and there is a desire for more personalized approaches. The purpose of this study is to develop and test a fatigue self-management intervention using mobile phones that is personalized to each person's needs.

People with spinal cord injury (SCI) have motor dysfunction that results in substantial social, personal, and economic costs. Uncontrolled muscle spasticity and motor dysfunction result in disabilities that significantly reduce quality of life. Several rehabilitation interventions are utilized to treat muscle spasticity and motor dysfunction after SCI in humans. However, because most interventions rely on sensory afferent feedback that is interpreted by malfunctioned neuronal networks, rehabilitation efforts are greatly compromised. On the other hand, changes in the function of nerve cells connecting the brain and spinal cord have been reported following repetitive electromagnetic stimulation delivered over the head and legs or arms at specific time intervals. In addition, evidence suggests that electrical signals delivered to the spinal cord can regenerate spinal motor neurons in injured animals. A fundamental knowledge gap still exists on neuroplasticity and recovery of leg motor function in people with SCI after repetitive transspinal cord and transcortical stimulation. In this project, it is proposed that repetitive pairing of transspinal cord stimulation with transcortical stimulation strengthens the connections between the brain and spinal cord, decreases ankle spasticity, and improves leg movement. People with motor incomplete SCI will receive transspinal - transcortical paired associative stimulation at rest and during assisted stepping. The effects of this novel neuromodulation paradigm will be established via clinical tests and noninvasive neurophysiological methods that assess the pathways connecting the brain with the spinal cord.

Low vitamin D is frequently seen in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) in acute and chronic periods. Among its causes are insufficient sun exposure, limited oral intake, obesity, the effect of the drugs used on the absorption of vitamin D, kidney and liver diseases. If we consider patients with spinal cord injuries in Turkey, it is difficult to get involved in the society, low exposure to the sun, lack of necessary health controls and immobility brings extra risk factors for the low vitamin D compared to the general population. Despite Turkey Endocrinology and Metabolism Endocrine Society and the International Endocrine Association clinical practice guidelines do not provide specific recommendations about vitamin D, for individuals with spinal cord injuries. Individuals with SCI are at high risk for low vitamin D. Vitamin D levels need to be checked and replaced. Vitamin D doses, application methods and dose intervals used in Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation clinics are different. The aim of our study is to perform the necessary vitamin D replacement for individuals with SCI who have vitamin D deficiency in different dose intervals and to compare the effects of muscle strength, muscle thickness and functional independence with the control group.

The purpose of this research study is to investigate the effectiveness of a memory retraining program and a processing speed program in a spinal cord injured (SCI) population. The study is designed to research how well different types of techniques can help people with SCI improve in areas where they might have difficulties such as memory or processing speed, (time it takes to process information provided).

SCI Thrive is a randomized controlled trial to test the efficacy of SCI Thrive (6 week Peer-Led Online Self-Management Program) to improve quality of life and self-efficacy for individuals with SCI.