None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
The purpose of this research is to investigate the use of electrical stimulation to support a muscle strengthening program aimed at increasing standing function in individuals with incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI). Specifically, this project will establish whether there are any differences in outcome using a conventional stimulation pattern (low frequency) or a new, higher frequency stimulation pattern. The project will test the hypotheses that, following training using a combined FES-voluntary muscle strengthening program, motor-incomplete SCI individuals will be able: 1. to stand for longer; 2. to perform significantly more repetitions of the sit-to-stand/stand-to-sit activity ; 3. to achieve significantly greater upper limb reach.
Interventions
Conventional low frequency (35Hz stimulation of quadriceps, hamstrings and gluteal muscles) functional electrical stimulation supported recumbent cycling. Participants are seated with their lower limbs strapped into pedals, electrical stimulation of lower limb muscles assists voluntary muscle work to cycle against a mechanical resistance set by the bicycle. Subjects will train for 40 minutes, resistance will be increased over the training period to ensure power output is optimised. Weight res
Conventional low frequency (35Hz stimulation of quadriceps, hamstrings and gluteal muscles) functional electrical stimulation supported recumbent cycling. Participants are seated with their lower limbs strapped into pedals, electrical stimulation of lower limb muscles assists voluntary muscle work to cycle against a mechanical resistance set by the bicycle. Subjects will train for 40 minutes, resistance will be increased over the training period to ensure power output is optimised. Weight resistance (set to the individuals 8 repetition maximum) will be applied for inner range quadriceps muscle strength training. Range will be from approximately 20 degrees of knee flexion to full knee extension. Three repetitions of eight repeated contractions, with a two minute rest between each, will be used. Nine sessions of training over three weeks (3 per week) will be used in this arm of the study. This is a cross-over study. First arm duration - 3 weeks; washout period - 2 weeks; second arm duration - 3 weeks.
Sponsors
Jack Crosbie
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Crossover
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Blinded (masking used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
American Spinal Injuries Association (ASIA) C or D subjects (ie subjects will incomplete cord lesion involving some sparing of voluntary muscle activity below the level of the lesion) with spinal cord injury of >12 months standing
Exclusion criteria
Osteoporosis which would compromise the ability to stand or generate significant muscle moments about the knee or hip joints.
Outcome results
None listed