Spinal cord injury Damage to the spinal cord
Conditions
Interventions
Participants will receive 5 days of twice-daily unilateral neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES).
Sponsors
Universitair Medisch Centrum Utrecht
Eligibility
Age
18 Years to 99 Years
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: In order to be eligible to participate in this study, a subject must meet all of the followingcriteria:Chronic (> 1 year), motor complete SCI (ASIA Impairment Scale (AIS) A or B)Age between 18 and 70 yearsBMI between 18.8 and 30 kg/m2Having given ICIntact quadriceps muscles with visible muscle contractions on NMES
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: A potential subject who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from participationin this study:Flaccid paralysisExtreme quadriceps muscle spasticityA history of severe autonomic dysreflexiaDonated blood during 2 months prior to test day(Family) history of thrombosis Progressive diseaseInsufficient mastery of the Dutch language (speaking and reading)Intolerance to or contra-indication for neuromuscular electrical stimulation (cancer, pregnant, metal implants in stimulation area)Recent or current participation in an electrical stimulation-induced exercise program at the lower extremities or study (up to 1 month prior to this study)Participant in another study which might affect the results of the proposed studySevere psychiatric illness or disorders (to the discretion of the treating rehabilitation physician) Use of blood thinnersMedication related to muscle mass (e.g., anabolic steroids)
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| The primary outcome will be muscle protein synthesis rates. | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Secondary outcomes include:Blood metabolic and inflammation markers such as glucose, insulin, cytokines (e.g., TNFa, MCP-1, IL-6, IL-10)To understand possible changes in muscle protein synthesis and breakdown, we will also analyze anabolic and proteolytic molecular pathways such as mTOR, FOXO, MuRF1, and MAFBx mRNA expression and signalingmTOR etc. (Western Blots) | — |
Countries
Netherlands
Contacts
Public ContactJ.M. Stolwijk-Swüste
Universitair Medisch Centrum Utrecht
Outcome results
None listed