Spinal Cord Injury Thoracic
Conditions
Keywords
spinal cord injury, trunk balance, electrical stimulation, multifidus, erector spinae
Brief summary
The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of electromyography (EMG) triggered electrical stimulation (ES) applied to multifidus and erector spinae muscles on trunk balance in patients with complete thoracic spinal cord injury (SCI). The fundamental questions that investigators want to answer are as follows: * \[question 1\]: Does multifidus and erector spinae EMG ES improve trunk balance in patients with complete SCI? * \[question 2\]: Does multifidus and erector spinae EMG ES improve muscle thickness in patients with complete SCI?
Detailed description
Spinal cord injury results in loss of sensory and motor function below the level of injury, causing difficulty with unaided sitting and activities of daily living, especially at the thoracic level in SCI patients. The paraspinal muscles that provide trunk balance are weakened in these patients. Methods such as neuromuscular electrical stimulation and EMG ES are used to improve trunk balance and restore muscle function. This study aims to investigate the effect of EMG ES applied to the multifidus and erector spinae muscles on trunk balance in patients with complete thoracic SCI.
Interventions
DEVICENeuro Trac Myo Plus Pro
Electrical stimulation parameters; stimuli were monophasic, rectangular, stimulus duration 300 µs, frequency 25 Hertz, amplitude was increased up to a maximum of 100 milliampere until contraction was seen.
OTHERTrunk eccentric exercises
The control group performed back eccentric exercises for 4 weeks, 3 times a week, 3 times in each session
Sponsors
Ankara City Hospital Bilkent
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Intervention model description
In this randomized controlled and prospective study, investigators included 15 participants with complete thoracic spinal cord injury. Investigators divided the participants into two groups, where one group received the electromyography-triggered electrical stimulation applied to the erector spinae and multifidus muscles, and the control group received trunk eccentric exercises only, applied three times a week for four weeks.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* have traumatic SCI and this injury occurred at least 3 months ago, * be between the ages of 18 and 65, * have a neurological injury level between thoracic 4 and thoracic 12 * be fully paraplegic according to the American Spinal Cord Injury Association (ASIA) impairment scale * be able to sit unsupported in a wheelchair
Exclusion criteria
* patients with a diagnosis of heart failure * malignancy * intracardiac defibrillators * epilepsy * open wounds * patients using trunk corsets
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Trunk control test | Baseline- Week 4 | The trunk control test is a useful tool in determining the prognosis of independence in activities of daily living and measuring trunk balance in individuals with spinal cord injury. It was applied to all participants before and after treatment. The test consisted of 3 parts; static control, dynamic control and dynamic control with upper extremity activities. |
| Modified functional reach test | Baseline- Week 4 | The modified functional reach test is a reliable tool to assess sitting reaching in individuals with SCI and to provide immediate feedback to study personnel. It was applied to both groups before and after treatment. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Erector spinae muscle thickness | Baseline- Week 4 | Erector spinae muscle thickness was measured with a real-time B-mode ultrasound device (General Electric Co., Wisconsin, USA). Measurements were performed bilaterally in the prone position with an 8-12 MegaHertz linear probe placed parallel to the muscle fibres. Gel was used between the probe and the skin during the measurements. The measurement site was defined as 7 cm lateral to the L3 spinous process of the lumbar erector spina muscle. |
Other
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Multifidus muscle thickness | Baseline- Week 4 | Multifidus muscle thickness was measured with a real-time B-mode ultrasound device (GE, General Electric Co., Wisconsin, USA). Measurements were performed bilaterally in the prone position with an 8-12 MegaHertz linear probe placed parallel to the muscle fibres. Gel was used between the probe and the skin during the measurements. The measurement site was defined as 2 cm lateral to the L4 spinous process of the Multifidus muscle. |
Countries
Turkey (Türkiye)
Outcome results
None listed